MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Perhaps the only thing people will remember about the Brazil 2014 World Cup is the host country's colossal demise against Germany. Here in Mexico there are two other things we won’t be able to forget. The first: Arjen Robben’s theatrics and the controversial penalty, which shouldn’t have been awarded, that destroyed our dreams of lifting the trophy for the first time. The second: FIFA’s investigation into accusations that Mexico fans’ hollering of the word puto before goal kicks is homophobic.

While Mexico used to be known for the Wave and the iconic song "El Cielito Lindo," the puto chant has become characteristic of the Mexican fanbase, who repeatedly chant the word puto to throw off or distract the opposite team's goalkeeper. This World Cup, however, the chant became so prevalent that even other countries' fans began howling it.

Puto is the male version of the Spanish pejorative for prostitute, but the term is colloquially used as a homophobic slur. After investigations into the nature of the word, FIFA determined it to be in violation of its non-discrimination standards. Although the verdict did not yield any sanctions, it sparked a lot of debate back home. Many Mexicans found FIFA’s accusations baseless, arguing that the word in question is not necessarily a slur but can be used in a variety of contexts to add emphasis, much like the f-word in English; the Royal Spanish Academy recognizes this usage.

Renowned Mexican news anchor, Joaquín López-Dóriga, went as far as to call foul play, suggesting that FIFA was using these allegations to distract the international community’s attention away from itself. FIFA has long been labeled as corrupt, and questionable refereeing throughout the World Cup ended in many accusations about the organization’s competency.

At the end of the day, FIFA’s transgressions are irrelevant to the discussion and we Mexicans, need to take responsibility for our actions. When faced with accusations of homophobia, why is denial our initial reaction? Roy Campos from El Economista wisely pointed out that if our fans had been hurling racist or sexist terms instead, the entire nation would have been outraged. Why are we not outraged now?

While it is true that puto can act as an emphatic adjective in some contexts, we need to stop kidding ourselves that this usage was the intention behind the chant. We yell puto at the opposing goalie to undermine him and to make him question himself, his abilities and his self-worth, because being puto, or gay, in Mexico is a bad thing.

We were quick to get upset at FIFA, but I think this chant, and our adamant denial, is indicative of larger problems within our society, namely our internalization of prejudices and homophobia.

Some may roll their eyes and call me over-sensitive, but we only need to look as far as recent political developments in Mexico. In the midst of the World Cup craze, Mexican Senator José María Martínez Martínez stealthily established a commission for the protection of the family. Although this may seem innocuous, the commission was tasked with protecting so-called traditional family values, which we all know is code for heterosexual marriage only. Now this is something to be outraged about.