.png)
San Diego FC's historic first home match in Major League Soccer was overshadowed by controversy on Saturday night, as homophobic chants erupted from sections of the crowd at Snapdragon Stadium. The club, along with head coach Mikey Varas and sporting director Tyler Heaps, swiftly condemned the offensive behavior, reinforcing their commitment to inclusivity and respect.
The highly anticipated match against St. Louis City SC, which ended in a scoreless draw, drew a record-setting crowd of 34,506 fans eager to celebrate the arrival of MLS’s newest team. However, the excitement was marred when the widely denounced chant, often heard at Mexican national team games, was shouted multiple times in the second half.
Despite repeated warnings on the scoreboard and public address system, the chant persisted, prompting frustration from club leadership. Varas, who addressed the issue in both English and Spanish during his postgame press conference, made it clear that such behavior does not align with San Diego FC’s values.
“The chant that was heard tonight is unacceptable,” Varas stated. “It’s outside of our value system. It doesn’t represent the players, myself, or the club, and it certainly doesn’t represent San Diego or Baja California. We are a community that stands for love, support, and diversity.”
Varas also clarified that the chant did not originate from the club’s primary supporter group, La Frontera, which actively promotes an inclusive atmosphere. Instead, the offensive behavior stemmed from general seating areas.
“This came from the broader crowd, not our supporters’ section,” Varas emphasized. “While it wasn’t everyone, it was enough to make an impact. Let me be clear: if fans intend to continue using this chant, they should not come to our games.”
The issue is not unique to San Diego FC. The chant has long plagued Mexican club and national team matches, prompting FIFA to impose fines and even game stoppages in an effort to curb its use. Despite these sanctions, it continues to be an ongoing challenge in North American soccer.
Sporting director Tyler Heaps echoed Varas’ condemnation and stressed that San Diego FC would take necessary steps to prevent future incidents.
“It’s completely against our values as a club and as people,” Heaps said. “One of our core principles is simply to be a good person. This type of behavior will not be tolerated, and we are committed to ensuring it does not continue.”
San Diego FC now faces the challenge of reinforcing its stance and working toward an environment free from discrimination. The club’s next home match at Snapdragon Stadium is scheduled for March 15, and officials will likely explore additional measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the team continues its inaugural season, the message from leadership remains clear: there is no place for hate in soccer, and San Diego FC will stand firmly against any actions that contradict its commitment to diversity and respect.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / Matthias Kost, Unsplash / Tareq Ismail
