Brazil's pre-Copa America friendly against Mexico at the Kyle Field stadium in Texas was suspended mid-match after homophobic chants were in the stands. 

The clash, which the South American giants eventually won 3-2, was paused just before the hour when the chants could be heard from the Mexico end during a goal kick being taken by Brazil stopper Alisson Becker. 

Referee Lukasz Szpala halted proceedings and informed both sets of players about the situation. A message was then displayed on the big screen, which read: 'Because of the discriminatory chant you just heard, the game has been temporarily stopped.

'Any individual participating in the discriminatory chant will be ejected from the stadium.'

FIFA's three-step protocol where racial and discriminatory abuse is heard begins with the match being stopped and a warning given to supporters. Step two sees players being taken off the field and step three is the abandonment of the fixture. 

A message informing supporters that the game had been halted due to homophobic chants was displayed in the stadium

Back in 2017, FIFA warned Mexico about the conduct of its fans during a Confederations Cup match after supporters were heard using the word 'Puto', which is the masculine form of the word 'Puta'. 

The slur means male prostitute but in Mexican Spanish it translates roughly as 'f*****' and is often used to criticise someone's masculinity. 

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At that point the national team had been reprimanded eight times for such offenses. The issue has remained prominent in the years that have followed. 

In March, the country's Nations League clash against the USA was stopped twice by the referee after USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner was the subject of homophobic chants. 

CONCACAF issued a statement the next day, saying it 'strongly condemns the discriminatory chanting by some fans,' which 'has no place in our sport.'

'Security staff in the stadium identified and ejected a significant number of fans, and the referee and match officials activated the FIFA protocol.' The statement read. 

'It is extremely disappointing that this matter continues to be an issue at some matches.'

Mexico have been hit with a fine and the closing of stadium after incidents during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches.

Brazil led 2-0 at the enforced break thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Andreas Pereira. After the restart, Mexico mounted a comeback, first getting on the scoresheet in the 73rd minute after Julian Quinones's goal. Before finding the leveller through Guillermo Martinez's strike in the second minute of stoppage time. 

However, Brazil were to take the spoils when wonderkid Endrick pounced in the 96th minute to win the game.