Mexico match against Ecuador on Sunday was halted in the second half due to Mexico fans once again using an anti-gay chat toward the opposing goalkeeper.
The two teams drew 0-0 in a friendly at Soldier Field in Chicago in front of an announced crowd of 61,104.
The chant was heard during an Ecuador goal kick in the 81st minute, prompting the referee to initiate step one of FIFA’s three-step protocol. Players gathered around the center circle for a brief stoppage before play resumed.
As part of the three-step protocol, a second stoppage would have resulted in a suspension of play with players going to their dressing rooms, while a third incident would have seen the game abandoned.
Fans at Soldier Field were warned in several different ways on Sunday, including a video message before the game from Mexico star Andrés Guardado, but those warnings ultimately failed to achieve their aim.
#MEXECU | ⏱ 81’ | 0-0
Match interrupted.
We enter step 1 of the anti-discrimination protocol.#MEXTOUR | #SomosLocales
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) June 6, 2022
Mexico was forced to play two World Cup qualifiers this year behind closed doors at Azteca Stadium due to a FIFA punishment over the chant.
Mexico goes scoreless again
After Mexico was shut out 3-0 by Uruguay last week, Tata Martino’s side again went scoreless against Ecuador.
Though Mexico’s attack has struggled throughout 2022, Martino said after the match that he was not concerned about his team’s lack of offensive firepower of late.
“I was worried when we lost to the United States and Canada [in World Cup qualifying] in the middle of November last year,” Martino said after the game. “Everything that’s happening now, in addition to wanting to play well and win and score a lot of goals, is to find the best setup and find the variations that we may need in a World Cup.”