Mexican soccer club Atlas FC has issued an apology after releasing a tweet quoting Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to defend a referee call.
“We at Atlas FC deeply regret the confusion that may have been caused by the use of a sensitive and unnecessary reference in a tweet this morning,” the statement began – originally in Spanish.
“We reject and oppose every value this regime espoused in one of humanity’s darkest times.” This is exactly what should be avoided at all costs.
“We reaffirm our solidarity, friendship and affection for the Jewish community and all who have fallen victim to barbarism, while reaffirming our commitment to work together as a society to stop defamation, distortion of information and lying as a petty way of seeking notoriety by harming others.”
“We will launch the appropriate investigations to understand the origin of the tweet and we will act accordingly internally.” “We also demand fair play off the field, where we all contribute to the spectacle, coexistence and development of our football.”
Atlas FC decided to defend a controversial call by citing Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels
The tweet paraphrases Goebbels’ quote, “Lie, lie, lie.” If you tell a lie big enough and repeat it over and over, people will eventually come to believe it.”
During the team’s MLS League Cup game against New York City FC, a video assistant referee ruled NYCFC’s late equalizer as an offside and struck it off the board to confirm Atlas’ 1-0 win.
A prominent YouTuber then criticized the overturned decision, leading to a member of Atlas’ social media team strikingly hitting back, citing Goebbels to back up his opinion.
In a post to the team’s 863,000 followers, they wrote in Spanish, “This footage is crystal clear,” along with a footage of the incident in question.
“Offside happens on the first play.” It is unfortunate how “influencers” and media “analysts” manipulate and generate notions of “supposed help”.
“But if you recall what Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Information (Hitler’s right-hand man), said, it is absolutely correct: ‘Lie, lie, lie.’ [and it will] remain. “The bigger a lie, the more people will believe it.” @werevertumorro.
Shocked, YouTuber Montiel tweeted again. “Have you ever had anything like this before? Do you remember a team that made a tweet like this? Answering an “influencer” (so they say)… and quoting a Nazi? “I’ve never considered myself an influencer, but I feel like influencing an institution that juggles so much.”
More than 30 minutes after the apology for posting the tweet, the original post still remained visible on the club’s Twitter feed.
The first news caused confusion and shock among football fans worldwide.
Social media was stunned by the outrageous tweet and that it wasn’t deleted
One football journalist wrote: “I’m shocked that after two hours this is still open and NOBODY at @AtlasFC doesn’t see the issue with a tweet that not only mentions Goebbels but also (Hitler’s right hand man) is there… Crazy…”
Drake Hills of the Tennessean wrote: ‘I quoted the Nazi Secretary of Information for an offside allegation.’ This is League Cup (?)’
“I’m very, very, very, very (very) surprised that Atlas still hasn’t deleted this tweet,” said Cesar Hernandez, ESPN’s Mexico soccer writer.
Newsday’s Ryan Gerbosi wrote: “The Atlas admin who referred to Goebbels and the Nazil and complained about the response to an offside call that went awry was not on my #LeaguesCup bingo card.”
The Athletic’s Jeff Rueter said: “I can’t believe we had to sort this out, but there isn’t a single event on a football field that would ever warrant a comparison to the Holocaust.”
Mexican fans were also shocked by the tweet and his reaction. One said: “In which semester of communication (school)” [are you taught] Associating your brand with the Third Reich?’
Another said: “And there was no way to explain it without citing Nazis before noon on Monday?”
Atlas is set in the city of Guadalajara – which has the country’s second-largest Jewish population after the capital, Mexico City.