Mexicans have taken to social media and television to defend the chant.

“Why do they want to take away this cheer that identifies us, that is lovely, that is euphoric, and that is in no way homophobic?” asked Martha Figueroa, a host on ¡Nuestro Día!, a morning television show on the network Cadena Tres.

Piara Powar, Fare’s executive director, said: “Mexicans have been arguing that this is meant as a form of calling someone a coward. But it’s fairly clear that it’s a homophobic chant. In the context and history that goes with it, it’s being used to indicate that the goalkeeper is homosexual and thus is weak.”

Homophobic slurs are nothing new to soccer stadiums around the world. During the tournament’s opening ceremony, Brazilian fans directed a chant — usually reserved for opposing players and referees — against their own president, Dilma Rousseff, in an episode that caused much hand-wringing around the country.

A FIFA spokeswoman, Delia Fischer, said the organization would not comment on the proceedings. No disciplinary action has ever been taken against teams for their fans’ discriminatory behavior at a World Cup tournament “to the best of our knowledge,” she added.

Lina Pérez Cerqueda, the president of Cuenta Conmigo, a gay-rights group in Mexico City, said the word in question has always been “used to offend.”