Nations League
US victory over Mexico overshadowed by masses of red cards and homophobic chants
In the USA vs. Mexico game in the Nations League, things got uncomfortable on the pitch at times.
© John Locher/AP/dpa
Red cards rained down in the USA vs. Mexico game. But it wasn’t just on the field that things were happening – also in the stands. Once again, homophobic diatribes rang through the stadium.
Again the Mexican fans showed their bad side. They poisoned the atmosphere with homophobic chants in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals against the USA. It wasn’t the first time. The Mexican fans are now known for it and have even been punished several times.
Thanks to the goals of ex-Dortmund professional Christian Pulisic and Augsburg’s Ricardo Pepi, the US soccer team has reached the final of the CONCACAF Nations League. However, the 3-0 (1-0) win against Mexico on Thursday (local time) in Las Vegas was overshadowed by four dismissals and mentioned abusive chants. Opponent of the US team is Canada, which also thanks to a goal from Bayern professional Alphonso Davies to the 2-0 (1-0) victory over Panama.
Former Schalke players Weston McKennie and Sergiño Dest for the USA, as well as César Montes and Gerardo Arteaga for Mexico, each had to leave the field with red cards in a turbulent second half. Referee Iván Barton from El Salvador, who refereed Germany’s preliminary round match against Japan at the last World Cup, interrupted the game in the 90th minute because of homophobic chants. Barton then did not add twelve minutes as planned, but blew the whistle in the eighth minute of added time as the chants began again.
Homophobia among Mexican fans
The world association FIFA had punished the Central American country more than a dozen times in recent years, including with ghost games. FIFA last investigated in December after Mexico’s elimination from the World Cup in Qatar because of fans’ chants.
Pulisic scored in the 37th and 46th minute, Pepi, who had just come on as a substitute, scored the final score in the 79th minute. Pepi was last loaned out to Groningen by FC Augsburg. It was the first win by a US team against Mexico by three goals in 23 years.
Davies scored the second goal for the Canadians in the 69th minute. The Nations League final of the North and Central American association CONCACAF takes place on Sunday.