The Mexican national team is taking part in a social tolerance campaign that is reportedly designed to stop homophobic chanting at soccer matches.
Although the word “puto,” (which translates as male prostitute or homosexual), is not explicitly mentioned in the video, media outlets have linked the campaign to efforts to stamp out the chant.
The slur is a common fixture in national and club soccer, and is usually shouted at the opposing goalkeeper as he kicks the ball out to play.
The homophobic stadium ritual came in for criticism during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. FIFA, the sport’s governing body recently fined the Mexican Soccer Federation US$20,700.
The Youtube video, featuring soccer stars Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Rafael Marquez, has nearly 120,000 views.
Yet fewer than 1,100 people have signed the online petition pledging to respect diversity in football.
Many fans have accused FIFA of hypocrisy, since it awarded the hosting of future World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar, two countries with laws that discriminate against homosexuals.
The ritual chanting has been a persistent issue in Mexican soccer. Fanbolero, a soccer website, claims that the chant first appeared in Guadalajara in 2003.
The ritual quickly spread throughout Mexico’s stadiums and has been heard in World Cups in Germany, South Africa and Brazil.