SAN DIEGO — Following San Diego FC’s first home game, coach Mikey Varas and sporting director Tyler Heaps expressed their frustration and disappointment after the match was disrupted by repeated occurrences of a homophobic chant during the second half. This chant, frequently associated with Mexican national soccer team fans, overshadowed the club’s inaugural event.
The club was unified in its condemnation of the infamous Spanish chant, which resonated during the scoreless draw against St. Louis City at Snapdragon Stadium. The stadium was filled with a crowd of 34,506 fans who had gathered to celebrate the debut of Major League Soccer’s 30th team, but their enthusiasm was marred by the offensive behavior.
In his postmatch press conference, Varas immediately addressed the issue, criticizing those responsible for the chant. Despite numerous warnings displayed on scoreboards and announced over the public address system, the offensive behavior persisted. Varas made his remarks both in English and Spanish.
“The chant heard this evening is entirely unacceptable,” Varas declared. “It stands contrary to our values. It does not represent the players, myself, the club, or the broader San Diego community. Our identity is one of love, inclusivity, and a celebration of diversity.”
Varas highlighted that the chant did not originate from San Diego FC’s core supporters, known as La Frontera.
“This was more widespread among the general audience and not from everyone,” Varas explained. “Nonetheless, it was enough people, and I want to stress that there is no place for this here. If attendees intend to keep chanting like this, we’d prefer they did not attend our matches.”
This word is typically deployed by fans in opposition whether a goalkeeper makes a goal kick, and has long been an issue within both club soccer and national matches in Mexico. It has also become a problematic fixture at Mexican national team’s games held in the United States.
The Mexican national team has faced numerous fines from FIFA due to spectator conduct concerning this chant. This behavior has led to temporary halts of play and even a shortened match between El Tri and the U.S. national team in recent history. However, the chant continues to persist, posing a likely problem for North America’s 2026 World Cup, which will host 13 matches across Mexico.
Heaps weighed in, asserting, “This chant is completely contrary to our club’s values, and reflects poorly on our identity as people. Being a good person is core to our ethics, and this is something we will continually uphold. It’s unacceptable, and we as a club will ensure it does not continue in the future.”
