A statement has been released as England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was subjected to a derogatory one-word insult by Mexican fans at the World Cup.

The Everton shot-stopper played a big part in the Round of 16 victory inside the Azteca Stadium, where the crowd created a tense and intimidating atmosphere for the Three Lions players.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane got the goals that saw them through to the quarter-final, while Pickford and his backline defended the goal brilliantly in the closing stages. While the Mexican ground is famed for its difficult playing conditions and brilliant atmosphere, this isn’t the first time it’s all been overshadowed by fans’ chants and insults.

England Supporters Group React to Pickford Insult

Raquel Cunha via Reuters

Large sections of the crowd were heard chanting ‘puto’ towards Pickford throughout the Round of 16 clash. The word for a male prostitute has become a regular occurrence in Mexican football, with the football federation often punished by FIFA for it.

England fan group Three Lions Pride & Pride In Football have now released a scathing statement, condemning the use of the word in any context. The group said:

As they go on to point out, it’s not the first time the slur has been used by Mexico fans during the 2026 World Cup. They were even handed a major FIFA warning prior to the England clash.

The statement continued: “This is the third time such chanting has been heard from El Tri fans in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after previous chants occurring against Czechia and Ecuador. This is simply not good enough.

“FIFA’s weakening of anti-discrimination messaging in the lead-up to, and during, this tournament has had a noticeable impact. As stewards of the game, FIFA have a responsibility to protect it, and to make it the beautiful game for everyone.

“We call on the Mexican FA and FIFA to have more effective anti-discrimination messaging and education programmes to tackle such chanting, and if it continues, stronger punishment must be handed out.”

Mexico Forced to Pay Out on Discriminatory Chants

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According to The Sun, over £1 million in fines have been imposed on the Mexican football federation over the matter. Not just for the use of the word in their own country, but also in stadiums around the world.

Ex-Mexico international Marco Fabian is one of many who insist the term is simply part of football culture. However, the Mexican government’s anti-discrimination commission (CONAPRED) has listed ‘puto’ as a homophobic slur.

Thibaut Courtois has issued his honest opinion on Senne Lammens after the Manchester United goalkeeper’s mistake cost Belgium dearly against Spain in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals.

Courtois started in goal but was subbed off through injury with 20 minutes remaining. The scoreline was 1-1 at this point after Charles De Ketelaere had canceled out Fabian Ruiz’s first-half goal shortly before half-time.

Lammens, who was voted Premier League Signing of the Season following an excellent debut campaign at Old Trafford, entered the fray for only his third international cap but made the error that led to Mikel Merino scoring the winner.

Spain defender Pau Cubarsi took a speculative shot from range which Lammens should have dealt with comfortably.

However, Belgium’s back-up goalkeeper spilled the ball into the path of Merino, who sent Spain through to the semi-finals with a close-range finish.

It was a gut-wrenching moment for Lammens and everyone else associated with Belgium. The Red Devils were minutes away from taking the tie to extra-time and will now make their way home from North America.

Courtois Speaks About Lammens After World Cup Mistake

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

After the match, Courtois defended Lammens, insisting his teammate is a top-class ‘keeper who will benefit from this gruelling experience.

“I gave him a big hug,” Courtois said, per France 24. “He’s a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this.”

The Real Madrid star added: “Eventually you cannot say much more to him or give him much more advice. He is a strong guy, strong personality. I’m sure he’ll be fine.

“You know, he will have some holidays and then regroup in Manchester and have a great season.”

Another Belgium player, Brandon Mechele, added: “It’s a learning moment for him. It was not the most easy ball. I think it bounces just in front of him. And we as defenders could have helped him by following up maybe more.

“So he needs to learn from this, and we as a group we have to be there for each other and help each other.”

Courtois and Lammens are both among the best goalkeepers in world football right now. Following Lammens’ mistake, Manchester United immediately rallied behind their shot-stopper, tweeting: “Head up, Senne. We’re all with you.”

Courtois Insists He Wanted to Stay on

Jessie Alcheh via Reuters/ Imagin Images

Meanwhile, Courtois has explained that he wanted to stay on the pitch before being substituted by Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia.

“Obviously, I wanted to continue, but the coach wanted someone 100%,” Courtois said.

“I wanted to try to play maybe five or 10 minutes because I was feeling good. I was making saves, and I was not disturbed to make those saves. So that’s a decision of the coach, and that’s not a problem.

“Obviously you’re not happy when you have to leave a quarter-final of a World Cup. But yeah, sometimes it is what it is. You can’t change it.”

Conor McGregor is set to return to the cage for UFC 329 tonight after a five-year hiatus, but can he replicate the winning ways of his former self?

McGregor‘s record in mixed martial arts stands at 22 wins, with 19 by way of knockout, one by submission, and two by decision. The Irishman also has six losses to his name, with four by submission and two by knockout, showing that he is not invincible.

The Irishman will be taking on Max Holloway, who is considered to be one of the greatest UFC featherweights of all time. The American holds the UFC records for most significant strikes with 3,655 and total strikes with 3,907. No fighter has been able to get within 1,000 of either record.

In addition, he also holds records in the UFC featherweight division, with the most wins, longest winning streak, most finishes and most knockout victories. He has all the abilities to be a fearsome opponent.

Both McGregor and Holloway are former UFC featherweight world champions, with McGregor also the first fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously as he also held the UFC lightweight championship. The pair did fight back in 2013, with McGregor winning by unanimous decision, but the fight is set to be held at welterweight.

The Dubliner is vastly more experienced in the welterweight category, having fought in this division three times. By contrast, Holloway will have to make the 170lb weight limit for the first time in his career.

The ‘Notorious’ McGregor hasn’t fought since he broke his tibia against Dustin Poirier in 2021, and he has been embroiled in controversy ever since, continuing a controversy-laden career that has rendered him infamous. While training for a return two years ago, he struck misfortune again, breaking his toe, which forced him to shelve his plans for a return.

But how can fans watch his return and what time will it be shown?

Fans can watch the fight live exclusively on TNT Sports Box Office, which can be accessed via HBO Max, EE TV, Virgin Media TV, Prime Video and Sky.

The main event between McGregor and Holloway is predicted to start shortly after 4am on Sunday in the UK, with 4:15am being the current estimate.

The main card is due to begin at 2am, with four three-round fights and the three-round co-main event between Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis set to keep audiences engaged. All fight times can change, so fans shouldn’t rely on these times as they risk missing the action.

There will also be an early preliminary card and a preliminary card to whet the appetite, with the first bout on the early preliminary card set to start at 10pm for plenty of UFC entertainment.

Things are getting off to a tense start, with the Irishman slapping Holloway during the press conference. McGregor has said that he’s eager to prove people wrong and is going to ‘shut them all up again’ while Holloway has promised that he’s ‘getting ready for a dangerous Conor McGregor.’

If McGregor pulls off the win, it will be an unbelievable comeback given the time-out and injury woes, but Holloway will want to curtail his ambitions and ensure the cameras are focusing firmly on his victory at the end of the fight.