Concacaf Nations League: Mexico-Costa Rica semi-final interrupted after homophobic cries

Mexico’s qualification for the Concacaf Nations League final on Thursday in Denver was marred by an interruption in its match against Costa Rica (0-0, 5-4 victory in the tab) after a repeat of cries homophobic. Mexico will meet Sunday in the tournament final with the United States, which beat Honduras 1-0 earlier today.

If the Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the hero of the match, allowing his team to win 5-4 in the penalty shootout (0-0 at the end of regulation time) by stopping a strike from Costa Rican Allan Cruz, the Mexican supporters, were again singled out. Each release from Costa Rican goalkeeper Leonel Moreira has been punctuated with a homophobic insult, a habit for years by “Tri” fans.

On Thursday, reminders were first issued to fans over the speakerphone. Then the meeting was stopped for three minutes during the stoppage of play while these cries had persisted. Mexico has been pinned down several times by Fifa for these homophobic demonstrations, and sanctioned with fines. In particular, proceedings had been opened for similar facts against the Mexican Federation after the 2018 World Cup in Russia. In 2017, the Federation asked its supporters to refrain from such behavior, without success.

In the first match of the day, the United States qualified for the final of the Nations League of Concacaf thanks to a goal by Jordan Siebatcheu scored one minute from the end of regulation time against Honduras (1-0 ). The American selection will be opposed Sunday in Denver to that of Mexico in an attempt to defend its title in a competition between nations of North America, Central America and the Caribbean.