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A very welcome show of solidarity, support, and respect within the world of professional soccer.
Over the weekend, the Chicago Fire's general manager Nelson Rodriguez took to the field on the team's annual Pride Night to address a troublesome issue. Rodriguez called out fans who were chanting "puto," which originated in Mexico and is understood as an offensive and homophobic slur. In no small terms, Rodriguez advised that those found participating in the chant at Chicago Fire games would be subject to removal. "[The chant is] unbecoming and certainly not reflective of the great city that we live in, and the best fans in major league soccer," he said.
The chant has surfaced more and more outside of Mexico, stirring reactions from gay rights activists as well as FIFA, the Federation Internationale de Football Association.
Chicago Tribune sports columnist John Kass was with his two sons at the game when Rodriguez made the announcement, and he observed that if a team is threatening removal of any fan--a potential source of revenue--then the reason behind that decision must be a very important one.
While there were some boos, Rodriguez received largely favorable reactions from the crowd.
Watch a video of Rodriguez making the announcement here.
