The debut of San Diego FC has stirred up controversy in the soccer world. Following their first home match, coach Mikey Varas and sporting director Tyler Heaps expressed disappointment and anger over the homophobic chants that marred the game in the second half. Three instances of this offensive behavior were observed, echoing the notorious chant often heard at Mexican national team matches. Despite the club’s efforts to discourage such behavior through warnings on the scoreboard and over the public address system, the chant persisted during the match against St. Louis City, which ended in a scoreless draw at Snapdragon Stadium, attended by a crowd of 34,506 fans marking the arrival of Major League Soccer’s 30th team.
In a post-match news conference, Varas condemned those responsible for the chant in both Spanish and English, emphasizing that it goes against the club’s values and does not represent the players, staff, or the community of San Diego and Baja California. He stressed that the chant did not originate from San Diego FC’s main supporter section, La Frontera, but rather from the general audience in the stands. Varas made it clear that such behavior has no place in the club and urged those engaging in it to refrain from attending future matches.
The offensive chant, typically directed at opposing goalkeepers during goal kicks, is a common occurrence in Mexican soccer, both at club and national team levels. Despite FIFA fines and efforts to curb the behavior, the chant persists, causing disruptions and controversies in matches, including those involving the Mexican national team in the U.S. This issue is likely to remain prominent leading up to the 2026 World Cup, which will see Mexico host 13 matches.
Heaps echoed Varas’s sentiments, emphasizing the club’s core value of being good people and denouncing the chant as completely unacceptable. He assured that San Diego FC will take measures to prevent such behavior from occurring in the future, aligning with the club’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and respect both on and off the field.
