Insider Notes: Punishment for Mexico fan chant; Dunga's Brazil successor

Mexico fans continue to cheer an offensive chant at opposing goalkeepers despite warning, direction and sanctions.

Grant Wahl | Jun 14, 2016

Insider Notes: Punishment for Mexico fan chant; Dunga's Brazil successor /

Last month FIFA fined the Mexican federation $57,000 for what it called “homophobic chants by supporters” on three occasions in the last seven months. The Mexican FA made a video to discourage those homophobic chants and started a "Ya Parále" campaign (translated: "Stop it.") to dissuade fans, but the chants, directed at the opposing goalkeeper, have continued after goal kicks during this Copa América.

FIFA says this tournament is under the jurisdiction of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL and said to ask the two confederations what action might be taken as a disciplinary measure. Copa América organizers were not able to provide a statement on the record, but a source said they were reviewing the situation and that it is possible that Mexico could receive sanctions from the Copa disciplinary committee during this tournament.

CREDITOR: Mexico fans aren't getting the message

According to the specific statute cited by FIFA, continued offenses may be punished down the road by closed-door matches, forfeiting of games, points deductions and disqualification from competitions. Also, FIFA says liability for the chants does include games played on neutral ground, including Copa América.

GALLERY: Fans of Copa America

Copa America 2016 Fans

Argentina

Argentina

Argentina and Chile

Argentina

Argentina

Scott Iskowitz/LatinContent/Getty Images

Bolivia

Bolivia

Brazil

Brazil

Chile

Chile

Colombia and USA

Colombia

Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Ecuador

Stephen Brashear/LatinContent/Getty Images

Haiti and Peru

Jamaica and Venezuela

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Peru

Uruguay and Mexico

Uruguay

Uruguay

USA

As for one of Copa America's other headlining teams:

Top candidate to replace Dunga

Brazil fired Dunga as its manager on Tuesday, and now the big question is: Who will replace him?

A Brazilian FA source says a deal is "90% done" with Tite, the popular coach of the club Corinthians who has turned down the Brazil job twice in the past. The source added that it is "very possible" that Leonardo, the former PSG manager, could wind up as the Seleção's technical director.

The new Brazil coach will come into a high-pressure situation with Brazilian fans demanding their first Olympic soccer gold medal this summer on home soil. Keep in mind, too, that Brazil is currently in sixth place in South American World Cup qualifying.

YOUNG: Copa America far from Brazil's top priority this summer

Brazil was ousted from Copa America in the group stage, falling to Peru 1-0 on a controversial goal, when Raul Ruidiaz handled the ball into the Brazil net. In Brazil's other Copa America games, it drew 0-0 against Ecuador and routed Haiti 7-1.

Published Jun 14, 2016

GRANT WAHL

A leading soccer journalist and best-selling author, Grant Wahl has been with SI since 1996 and has penned more than three dozen cover stories.