John Sutcliffe says there's plenty of lineup decisions to be made with Mexico's depleted squad as they prepare to face Germany. Jonathan Dos Santos explains Mexico's need for squad rotation, and their optimistically pragmatic approach vs. Germany.

SOCHI, Russia -- When you think of Mexico national team fans, what should spring to mind is color and passion. And, sure enough, at each stop so far at the Confederations Cup, curious Russians have lined up to take photos with El Tri supporters dressed as El Chapulin Colorado, mariachis, luchadores or with Jorge Campos replica shirts.

But that undoubtedly positive aspect of fandom has been overshadowed by that goalkeeper chant. Mexico fans chant "puto" in unison as the opposition goalkeeper runs up to take goal kicks. It's common in Liga MX matches and in those involving the national team.

The Mexican federationargues the term is not an anti-gay slurwhen it is chanted en masse inside stadiums, FIFA disagrees. It has been ruled anti-gay by the world governing body, which has fined and warned the FMF on multiple occasions since November 2015. There have also been fears that home games would have to be moved away from Estadio Azteca.

The controversy first garnered global attention at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when FIFA received a complaint from anti-discrimination group Fare. The disciplinary committee ruled then that the chant was "not considered insulting in this specific context" and dismissed charges against the Mexican federation.

Since then, the FMF has launched campaigns to end the chant but there have been numerous incidents, including several during World Cup qualifiers. Last October, FIFA issued a fine of 85,000 Swiss francs ($85,000) against the Mexican federation and an appeal is currently being adjudicated upon by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In Russia, FIFA issued another warning"in relation to insulting and discriminatory chants" after the opening 2-2 draw against Portugal in Kazan, stressing that "additional measures" could be taken.

With new rules in place for the Confederations Cup giving referees the power to abandon games if there is discrimination from the stands, the fear within the Mexican federation was a match being suspended and / or some of the 2,000-strong El Tri supporters in Russia being escorted out of stadiums.

The response from the FMF has been unequivocal, with general secretary Guillermo Cantu telling ESPN that the aim is to eradicate the chant in games "all over the world" and hoping that "fans will be more educated over time." Mexico captain Andres Guardado reinforced the message.

So far, the message seems to be getting through. The chant was not heard in Mexico's last two group games and reports that two fans were escorted out of the stadium in Sochi were proved to be incorrect; FIFA told ESPN FC the stories were "without base" and they had no knowledge of the incident happening.

Speaking to a multiple Mexico fans in Russia over the past week, the feeling is that it is time to stop the chant. Outside Fisht Stadium in Sochi before the match against New Zealand, fans held up a banner asking others to refrain from chanting, while pamphlets were also handed out.

"We won't be shouting it," Mexico City native Sandra Brinones told ESPN FC. "It's been communicated and I think we Mexicans have to show that we have culture and respect for other countries and for ourselves."

"Why create a problem if we can be kicked out of the stadium, the federation can be fined or the national team punished with the suspension of a game," questioned "Caramelo," who can be seen at every Mexico game with his "Chihuahua" flag. "We're trying to make this a turning point to ask people to stop."

However, despite his desire to see an end to the chant, "Caramelo," as well as Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio, Guardado, Cantu and many fans, still don't think it is offensive.

"When it is screamed in the stadiums, it has this double entendre," Juan Jacobo Hernandez, founder of Mexican gay rights organization Colectivo Sol, told ESPN FC in an interview. "There's the festive interpretation saying that the others are imbeciles, clumsy and don't know how to score. But it's also sexist."

The origins of the chant are not 100 percent certain, but the most often-cited explanationsuggests that it is a relatively recent phenomenon, as opposed to a long-standing tradition in Mexican football.

It was first heard in 2003 when Atlas fans shouted it toward their former goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, who had left the club for America seven years earlier and then moved on to Chivas in 1999. The trigger four years after that, it is claimed, was statements Sanchez made before the game about his heart belonging to Chivas.

But while fans in Russia have largely towed the line, it remains to be seen what will happen when Mexico plays in front of bigger crowds at the Gold Cup in the United States next month, or when World Cup qualifying resumes in September. A recent ESPN Mexico pollrevealed 69 percent of fans will continue to shout it, despite efforts to curb it and potential repercussions.

And so the future is uncertain, although it helps that supporters' groups like Ola Verde and Pancho Villa's Army are active in attempts to end the controversy. "PVA is going to work with fans throughout the Gold Cup to stop the chant," said founder Sergio Tristan. "We will be focusing on education, passing out pamphlets and doing videos, and then creating something new for the opposing goal kick."

With Mexico part of the 2026 World Cup bid along with the United States and Canada, this would be an opportune moment for the chant to disappear. The signs in Russia so far have been positive but time will tell whether this is the beginning of its end. There are bigger tests to come.

Tom Marshall covers Liga MX and the Mexican national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @MexicoWorldCup.

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Despite progress over controversial Mexico fan chant, bigger tests remain - ESPN FC (blog)