Flamboyant Mexico fans urged to shout ‘Putin’ instead of homophobic slur at World Cup matches
A beer company campaign has advised supporters to use the Russia president's name during games
A MEXICAN beer company is urging football fans in Russia to chant "Putin" rather than a homophobic slur.
Mexico take on Germany in their first Group E game on Sunday with fans preparing themselves to perform their usual chant.
During a goal kick, supporters are known to shout "puto" — a homophobic slur which has seen the Mexican federation fined repeatedly.
But creators of Victoria beer have suggested a new idea.
The subsidiary of the Modelo brand has launched a campaign for fans to chant the surname of Russia's controversial President Vladimir Putin instead.
Russia's ambassador to Mexico, Eduard Malayan, was not happy with the idea.
: "We are not so dumb to understand that it is a play on words.
"It is not common to shout names or surnames of political personalities in our stadiums."
The company's positive, inclusive message goes in the face of Russia's laws.
In Putin's Russia, there are laws that ban "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" while same-sex couples are blocked from adopting children.
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In an in 2015, Putin said: "The problem of sexual minorities in Russia had been deliberately exaggerated from the outside for political reasons, I believe, without any good basis."
Putin, meanwhile, has had a good start to the tournament after watching Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening game on Thursday.
It will not please him to be mocked in his own country, at his own tournament, though.
