Brazil and Mexico face penalties for abusive anti gay chants at World Cup Game


                                                                              
 Brazil could face punishment for the “homophobic” behaviour of their fans after they were reported to Fifa over chants heard in their World Cup draw with Mexico. The Fare network, which is monitoring discriminatory behaviour at the tournament, alerted the world governing body to supporters’ use of the word “Puto” at the Group A game in Fortaleza.
Brazil and Mexico were both reported for aiming the abusive word - meaning male whore - at the opposition goalkeeper, with the visitors also cited for the same chant in their opening victory against Cameroon.
Fifa confirmed it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Mexico over the “improper conduct” of their spectators in that game.
Russia and Croatia, meanwhile, face action over “neo-Nazi” banners displayed during their respective matches against South Korea and Brazil.
Supporters of the two countries, repeat offenders when it comes to racism and anti-Semitism, were reported by the Fare network at the same time as those of Brazil and Mexico yesterday. 
Piara Powar, executive director of Fare and a member of Fifa’s anti-racism task force, told The Telegraph: “It seems that some fans of some countries will take their hatred halfway around the world. These images need to be acted on urgently.
“The levels of homophobic abuse at some matches is also totally unacceptable. There is some rapid education required before it begins to run out of control.
“Fifa has some strong regulations in place and we hope they use them. Zero tolerance is the approach set out. It is what is required here.”
Brazil and Mexico could escape with a warning for what would be classed as a first offence under Fifa’s disciplinary code but Russia and Croatia may face the threat of points deductions.
The World Cup is the second major tournament in a row in which their fans have been accused of racism, with both sanctioned more than once by Uefa during the European Championship two years ago. Russia were hit with a suspended six-point penalty for their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign for various offences, including the display of illicit banners and monkey chants.
Banners at their game on Tuesday contained the Celtic Cross, a symbol used by neo-Nazis and white supremacists worldwide.
The conduct of Russian supporters will heap pressure on organisers of the 2018 World Cup, with Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré last year warning black players could boycott the tournament if they continued to be abused after suffering monkey chants in Moscow.
Croatia’s offensive banner in the World Cup against Brazil contained the coat of arms of a fascist regime under Nazi control during World War II.
Their football federation was fined three times at Euro 2012 for various supporter offences, including the display of illicit banners and monkey chants directed at Italy striker Mario Balotelli.
The Croatia-Italy game also saw a banana thrown onto the pitch.
Fifa’s head of media, Delia Fischer, said: “We encourage individuals and groups such as Fare to submit any evidence in their possession with regard to discriminatory behaviour for the analysis and consideration of the FIFA disciplinary committee.”
Fifa’s president, Sepp Blatter, has repeatedly promised to clamp down on racism in football, calling for “sporting sanctions” such as points deductions to be imposed on offenders rather than the stadium closures favoured by Uefa. He said recently: “Sporting sanctions are the only effective punishment.”

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