Football: Fifa extends Chile ban for homophobic chants

A photograph on Oct 3, 2016 showing the Fifa logo outside the Fifa Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. PHOTO: EPA

ZURICH (AFP) - A fresh bout of homophobic chanting from fans at a Chile match has seen Fifa extend a home stadium ban on the continental champions to three games.

In May football's world governing body slapped Chile with a ban on playing at its Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago for two matches over a previous charge of homophobic chanting from the terraces, forcing them to play at a different stadium.

The extra stadium ban will be served at the 2018 World Cup qualifying match home to Venezuela in March 2017.

Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi's squad includes the likes of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal and Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

But his side, the Copa America champions, are currently seventh in the South American qualifying group.

Other incidents of poor crowd behaviour saw Honduras, Salvador, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Italy and Albania all pick up nominal fines from a Fifa disciplinary committee.

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