Mexico and Monterrey defender Jesus Gallardo has been suspended for two games by Liga MX for using an anti-gay slur during celebrations of Monterrey's 2019 Apertura title last month in Estadio Azteca.
After Monterrey defeated Club America on penalties to lift the title, Gallardo danced around the pitch after the final whistle and was caught on camera singing an anti-Club America chant with explicit anti-gay overtones.
The league announced an investigation on Jan. 4 and then this week confirmed that Gallarado will be suspended for the club's first two games of the 2020 Clausura and will have to pay an unspecified economic penalty due to his "inappropriate celebrations."
Gallardo sent a tweet saying "Ni modo" -- loosely translated as "whatever" -- shortly after the punishment was announced, but he later deleted it.
The issue of anti-gay chanting has been ongoing in Mexican soccer, with Mexico's football federation and Liga MX cracking down on the controversial goalkeeper chant that FIFA has ruled anti-gay.
The league and federation implemented a three-step strategy similar to that of FIFA, with both fearful of not making Qatar 2022 if it occurs regularly during World Cup qualifying.
Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman dyed his hair rainbow colors for last Saturday's draw with Atletico San Luis and sent a message of equality on social media.
"Year 2020 on Planet Earth," wrote the Argentine. "Cases of homophobic discrimination are still present in our society and football isn't the exception. Understanding our enormous social diversity and advancing rights for inclusion is everybody's responsibility."
