This article originally ran on ESPN Mexico and has been translated from Spanish.
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- Mexico's toughest opponent in this World Cup doesn't play on the field. That game is being played in the stands, and El Tri is losing because there is no way to make use of manager Juan Carlos Osorio's bevy of rotations there.
The recent fine levied by FIFA upon Mexico in response to fans' chants of "¡Ehhh, pu--!" in the opener against Germany has put officials of the national team's federation (FMF) on alert. The FMF will appeal, but Mexico must still pay the nearly $11,000 fine.
FMF general secretary Guillermo Cantu has warned that FIFA and its organizing committee can jump in and take drastic steps should the widely-used goalkeeper chant -- considered an anti-gay slur by some but a mere cultural taunt with no intend to offend by others -- present itself again Saturday against South Korea at Rostov Arena.
Although Dennis te Kloese, El Tri's director of national selection, told journalists that he doubted the situation would reach an extreme conclusion, such as on-field sanctions or taking away points, the decision remains at the discretion of FIFA's organizing committee.
Estimates vary, but some claim there are at least 20,000 fans in Russia rooting for Mexico. There appeared to be more than that last Sunday at Luzhniki Stadium during Mexico's 1-0 victory over Germany. But Osorio's frequent use of rotations can't be applied in the game Mexican soccer is playing off the field.
Some Mexico fans near Rostov Arena vowed to not only refrain from using the chant but -- if necessary -- to also point out those who don't to stadium security. Others, however, insist it's just a part of Mexican folklore, that it doesn't mean to label or stigmatize the opposing goalkeeper.
Should the chants continue, and if FIFA follows through with its determination against the FMF, Mexico would be the first team in World Cup history to be booked, warned and -- in case of repeated offense -- suffer a point deduction because of its fans.
Travel agency associations in Mexico and the U.S. point to the thousands of reservations that would be booked should El Tri earn a berth to the Round of 16. It would be most unusual if those same fans got in the way of the quest for that elusive fifth World Cup game.