MEXICO CITY — Mexico fans chanted an infamous homophobic slur several times through the first half of Mexico’s final group stage match against Czechia on Wednesday.Though the chant was audible multiple times, the referees presiding over the match did not intervene.For many years, Mexican fans have yelled the chant while the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick.The chant was heard on three occasions in the first half at the Estadio Azteca. The loudest chant came in the 40th minute when Czechia’s Matěj Kovář lined up to take a goal kick. Mexico won the match 3-0 after scoring three times in the second half.But World Cup TicketsFIFA claims to have a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory chants and has a procedure in place to deal with such behavior.Referees are supposed to stop the match until the behavior is halted. If the behavior continues after the match is stopped, it will be suspended. Referees did none of these things in the first half.The homophobic chant itself has several different meanings, but has been historically used in a derogatory manner toward gay men.Through the years, FIFA has taken many actions against the Mexican soccer federation, issuing fines, stadium closures and other sanctions. This includes a $108,000 fine issued by FIFA in January 2023 for the chant being used during the 2022 World Cup. Tatum Esparza is a student in the University of Georgia's Carmical Sports Media Institute.