Real Madrid Fans Subject Guardiola to Homophobic Chants During Match

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, faced homophobic chants from Real Madrid supporters during a Champions League match on February 19, where City lost 3-1, resulting in an aggregate defeat of 6-3. The chants included references to Chueca, a district in Madrid known for its LGBTQ+ community, and included derogatory remarks about Guardiola's appearance and personal life. Spanish publication Marca condemned the chants as 'reprehensible' and noted their homophobic undertones, coinciding with Guardiola's recent personal struggles following his separation from his wife, Cristina Serra, after over 30 years together. Guardiola acknowledged Real Madrid's quality in the match, despite the taunts from the crowd. The incident highlights ongoing issues of homophobia in sports, as previous studies indicate many LGBTQ+ individuals feel unwelcome at live sporting events. Real Madrid has denounced the behavior of the fans involved in the incident.