Philadelphia Union’s Twitter community manager, in the attempt to heat up their upcoming Concacaf Champions League match against Atlas in Guadalajara, made one of the most unfortunate and unprovoked social media posts from a professional soccer team we’ve seen in a while.
Philadelphia Union’s deleted tweet about Guadalajara, Jalisco's poverty-stricken neighborhoods
The Union arrived to Guadalajara, Jalisco on Monday to begin their preparations ahead of their CCL quarterfinal clash against Atlas. They will defend their 1-0 lead in the Estadio Jalisco on Wednesday.
However, instead of focusing and preparing what they will do on the pitch, the team’s Twitter account decided to mockingly post a picture of one of the city’s poverty-stricken zones that was deleted hours later.
No direct harm done, but we find it hard to believe that, considering Jalisco is one of Mexico's most beautiful cities, this was their social media manager’s only opportunity to snap a picture worthy of a social media post. A set of pictures posted with the intent to rile up attention and interactions — classless, if you ask us.
In retrospect, here are what the rojinegros set of social media posts used to represent what Philadelphia looked like when they visited the city last week:
Una activación distinta hoy en Filadelfia... ¿A dónde vamos? pic.twitter.com/72KfZ7Qsea
— Atlas FC (@AtlasFC) April 4, 2023
¡Vamos por el tercer capítulo hacia el objetivo en @TheChampions! ❤️#TodosJuntos pic.twitter.com/uJx3EX7qev
— Atlas FC (@AtlasFC) April 4, 2023
Sin ánimo de ser xenófobo como estos amigos de Philadelphia... sí comentar que hay niveles! Atlas visitó su ciudad, respetó y les dió su lugar. Ayer la cuenta de @PhilaUnion se burló de Jalisco publicando fotos de periferia de la ciudad con este mensaje! . Ya borraron el tweet. pic.twitter.com/a1ZEgiogQK
— Jorge Omar Sánchez (@JorgeOmarTV) April 11, 2023
On top of that, the Union’s tweet was, as expected, not worthy of the greatest reception by fans. Especially those of Jalisco and Atlas.
“How could they dare to bring classism into something as inconsequential as a soccer game?" It’s very stupid to make these tweets inciting violence.” and “There wasn’t a worse place to take the picture?” — were some of the responses to the tweet.
Unfortunately, the rest of jalisenses did not take the post lightly and also used Philly’s tweet as an excuse to hit at the American team's city with pictures, videos and jokes concerning the side of Philadelphia that isn’t just Rocky Balboa’s statue on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Fans poked fun at the city's trash and fentanyl crisis, going as far as renaming their city and calling them "zombies." If you need explicit examples, you could very well find one under any recent Philadelphia Union post on their Twiter account.
To think these comments and feud could've been avoided if Philadelphia Union's twitter didn't confuse making fun of classism as something funny.
Will this tweet fuel Atlas' will to make a comeback? Yes.
The Union and Atlas will face off on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET at the Estadio Jalisco to decide the third semi-finalist of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League.
With the tie still open after the 1-0 victory of the Union in Subaru Park last week, the zorros will be hoping to repeat their Round of 16 home comeback against Olimpia to reach their CCL final-four stage for the first time in their history.
Now, after what seemed like a 'friendly' competitive match for the team and the fans, the ramifications of the Union's tweet will probably turn the game into a parochialism defense for the whole city of Jalisco. Home win, comeback, first Concacaf semifinal in club history and you get to defend your city all in one game? Atlas fans are now waiting for it and they'll bring the heat to the stadium accordingly.
¡Nos vemos el miércoles en El Jalisco para otra noche mágica de @thechampions! ❤️
Boletos disponibles en https://t.co/uHQEnNmF1I pic.twitter.com/H1pp6bQxUp— Atlas FC (@AtlasFC) April 10, 2023
