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Better Late Than Never? The Fire Finally Responds To "The Chant"

Related Topics: Homophobia, Transphobia

The club takes a tentative first step toward addressing homophobia in the stands

Minutes before kickoff of the Fire’s home game against the New York Red Bulls, Fire General Manager Nelson Rodriguez addressed the crowd from the center circle. His brief comments represented the club’s first official response to the proliferation of ¡P*to! chants among Fire fans and throughout MLS.

LIVE on #Periscope: #cf97 GM Nelson Rodríguez addresses the crowd pregame regarding disparaging and offensive chant… https://t.co/91pGKskL0l

Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) July 31, 2016

Rodriguez made it clear that homophobic speech and behavior was unacceptable and that anyone caught yelling that chant risked ejection from Toyota Park.