Deputies speak out against the sanction against the women's team
The women's national team could face part of the two-match ban for the homophobic chant "eeeh, faggot!" during the men's Olympic qualifying tournament, after the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) agreed it is awaiting FIFA's instructions to determine which matches will carry the sanction.
In response to this news, the Chamber of Deputies' Gender Equality Committee has taken a stand to prevent the women's team from being affected.
We are awaiting FIFA's determination regarding the specific matches in which the sanction will be applied. The FMF has no influence whatsoever on the selection of matches in which the punishment will be imposed and categorically rejects any attempt to harm the women's national team, the organization stated.
Yon de Luisa, president of the FMF, acknowledged that since two matches will be penalized, one could be during the women's team's next FIFA matchday.
There's one for the men's team in September and another for the women's team. The fine could be paid by both teams; we don't know until FIFA decides, he told Multimedios.
FIFA indicated that there are two sanctioning matches
The world's governing body for soccer punished Mexico for the homophobic chant at the pre-Olympic tournament in Guadalajara. De Luisa pointed out that the international organization only said that the Mexican national team must play two home matches behind closed doors, without specifying whether they will be for the youth, women's, or men's teams.
"I don't think it's unfair (to punish the women's team). The sanction comes from a match played by the U-23 team, not even the senior team. We're not being punished for the men's team's behavior. I don't agree, but we have to comply. The punishment isn't for the national team, it's for the fans," the director added.
The men's team will play home matches on September 2 and October 7, while the women's team will play on the FIFA World Cup weekend between September 13 and 21.
