After completing a $3M transfer to the club, the Bundesliga side defended the decision to acquire the American
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Holstein Kiel address Tolkin's social media activityUSMNT defender liked insensitive posts on social mediaEx-RBNY player apologized in July ahead of OlympicsWHAT HAPPENED?
Holstein Kiel on Friday issued a statement in support USMNT international John Tolkin following criticism of his social media activity. Tolkin, who signed with the Bundesliga club this week on a transfer from New York Red Bulls, has faced criticism for his activity online relating to a variety of topics including gender identity and conspiracies around the COVID pandemic.
Tolkin had been named to the USMNT roster for the January camp, but U.S. soccer said Thursday that Tolkin was leaving for "personal reasons.”
Holstein Kiel said in a statement that the club is “firmly convinced that with the signing of John, we can welcome a player to Holstein Kiel who fits in with us as a club, not only from a sporting point of view, but also from a human point of view.”
Said the club: “As part of the signing of John Tolkin, we have spoken to the player about these issues due to the circumstances of his criticized social media activities. John has credibly explained to us that he did not want to hurt or offend anyone with these likes. Furthermore, John publicly apologized shortly after the criticism of his behavior arose, including in a US television interview. None of the points of criticism he was accused of being compatible with his personal values. John stands behind the club's philosophy and this explicitly includes a commitment to diversity, tolerance and against all forms of discrimination and racism.”
Tolkin also issued a statement via the club, saying: “I regret that things I have done in the past in my social media activities may have hurt, irritated or offended people. That was never my intention. I would like to assure you 100 percent at this point that I respect all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I always judge people based on how they treat me and others. In my circle of friends and my teams, I always meet a wide variety of people and I always have a close and trusting relationship with them.
“That is why I would like to make it clear that I have neither homophobic nor any kind of discriminatory thoughts. That is incompatible with my personal values that were taught to me from childhood. That is why it now hurts me even more that my start here at Holstein Kiel is accompanied by this issue. I want to concentrate on football and help the club and the team in sporting terms."
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Kiel were promoted to the German Bundesliga this season, and currently sit 17th in the league standings. On Tuesday, they defeated Gio Reyna's Borussia Dortmund 4-2, moving them to 11 points on the season through 17 matches.
Tolkin, a former star with the Red Bulls, helped lead the MLS side to MLS Cup 2024 this past season.
Internationally, he represented the USMNT at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, starting all four matches in the competition. Ahead of the tournament, he apologized for his social media activity – including liking some insensitive posts – saying, "To anybody who I did offend, I understand the platform I have and liking those posts on Twitter is probably not the best thing to do."
DID YOU KNOW?
Tolkin and Kiel will participate in an international friendly this summer at Allianz Field on July 7 as part of their preseason training in the U.S. against MLS side Minnesota United.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KIEL AND TOLKIN?
The Bundesliga side are back in action against Hoffenheim Saturday as they look for their third victory in their last four domestic league matches. Tolkin is eligible to make his debut in the match.