HOUSTON – The Houston Dynamo is asking fans to stop using an offensive chant during games.
The chant involves the usage of a Spanish term that is considered a derogatory slur. Some fans yell it when the visiting team's goalkeeper takes a goal kick.
Dynamo legend Brian Ching is leading the push to encourage fans to stop saying it.
"This chant has no place in our stadium, our city or, frankly, our game," Ching said. "Our Supporters Groups have worked with us over the last several years to stop its use among their members, and now we are joining together to ask all of our fans to stop using it."
"We want our fans to be vocal and make life difficult on the visiting teams at BBVA Compass Stadium, but I want to be clear that vulgar and offensive language will not be tolerated by our club," Dynamo President Chris Canetti said.
The Dynamo is joining forces with the club's supporters groups, El Batallon, Texian Army and Brickwall Firm, to encourage fans to replace the term with something more positive. Members of the groups will take the lead, making a point to yell "Ohhhh HOUSTON!" during opponents' goal kicks. Fans throughout the stadium are encouraged to join in on the replacement chant.
Fans will get numerous reminders at Saturday's home match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC:
-Dynamo will show a video before the game, in which fans will be asked to stop using the offensive chant and instead use the more affirmative "Ohhhh…HOUSTON!" cheer.
-Dynamo and Whitecaps will also enter the field wearing T-shirts bearing Major League Soccer's "Don't Cross the Line" campaign against offensive and vulgar language.
-Guest services representatives throughout BBVA Compass Stadium will be handing out yellow warning cards to fans who are heard using vulgar or offensive cheers. Repeated warnings will result in fans being removed from the stadium.
Fans in the stadium may anonymously report offensive language by texting "BBVA" and the issue to 69050.