On Sunday night, the Concacaf Nations League final between Mexico and Panama was interrupted due to audible anti-gay chants at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. In the 82nd minute, the referee issued a warning from Concacaf before play was stopped for a couple of minutes. The game resumed shortly after and ended with Mexico winning 2-1.

This incident marks the third consecutive year that similar chants have disrupted this tournament, with previous occurrences noted during matches involving the United States and Mexico.

Raul Jimenez secured Mexico’s victory with a late penalty, solidifying their first title in the Nations League competition. Earlier in the day, the United States lost to Canada in the third-place match.

Background Historically, matches involving Mexico have faced interruptions due to fans using anti-gay chants. In 2021, during a semi-final against Costa Rica, the game was paused amid a penalty shootout due to such behavior, leading to ejections from the stadium. Similar interruptions occurred in subsequent finals.

Anti-Discrimination Policies Ahead of the 2021 Nations League finals, Concacaf introduced a three-step protocol to address discriminatory language from fans, aligning with FIFA’s guidelines. The match may be halted if such conduct is heard, followed by a public announcement requesting fans to desist. If the behavior persists, the referee has the authority to terminate the match altogether.

This policy aims to foster a safe and respectful environment for all spectators and participants in the game.