The Mexican football federation has suffered a fresh legal setback after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected its appeal against FIFA fines linked to an anti-gay chant repeatedly directed at opposition players by Mexican fans.

The ruling arrives at a particularly pointed moment — the defeat came just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, casting a shadow over the host nation's preparations.

Mexico's federation had pursued the CAS appeal in an effort to overturn the sanctions, which FIFA imposed following repeated incidents in which supporters used a homophobic slur during international matches. The court's dismissal means those punishments stand.