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[TexasStooge]

Woman Fined for Bungling Mexican Anthem

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) - A woman who fumbled a few phrases of Mexico's national anthem while singing the song before a soccer game in Guadalajara has been fined $40 for the blunder.

Guadalupe Madrigal acknowledged she got the words wrong while singing before an Oct. 30 soccer match between teams from Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico's Interior Department announced Saturday in a written statement.

"She indicated she was sorry to have sung the national anthem poorly," the department announced. "She indicated that she did not do it on purpose or with bad intentions, but recognized that she had made a mistake."

Madrigal, who could not immediately be reached for comment, could have been fined as much as $880 under Mexican law regarding the national seal, flag and hymn.

Officials decided to apply a $40 fine after taking into consideration Madrigal's economic situation — and the fact that thousands of spectators from across Mexico witnessed the performance.

On Sept. 15, Mexico celebrated 150 years of the anthem by calling for an international sing-along.

The fine indicates the government's commitment to ensuring "the necessary respect that patriotic symbols deserve," the statement said.