John Tolkin hasn’t played for Bundesliga soccer club Holstein Kiel yet, but the “Storks”‘ record transfer is causing a stir off the pitch. The American now regrets liking social media posts related to gender identity, the coronavirus pandemic and conspiracy theories.
“I regret that things I have done in my social media activities in the past may have hurt, irritated or offended people. That was never my intention,” said Tolkin in a statement distributed by Kiel: “I I would like to say 100 percent 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.”
“I don’t have any homophobic or discriminatory thoughts in me.”
—John Tolkin
Holstein completed Tolkin’s transfer on Thursday; the 22-year-old left-back is moving from the MLS team New York Red Bulls to the penultimate team in the Bundesliga. According to media reports, the “Storks” paid between 2.5 and 3 million euros for Tolkin.
“John stands behind the club’s philosophy, and that explicitly includes a commitment to diversity, tolerance and against all forms of discrimination and racism.”
— Statement Holstein Kiel
The people of Kiel were aware of the social media activities before the transfer, and the topic came up as part of the commitment. “John credibly explained to us in the conversations that he didn’t want to hurt or offend anyone with these likes,” it said in a statement. The player stands “behind the club’s philosophy, and that expressly includes a commitment to diversity, tolerance and against all forms of discrimination and racism.”
Similarity to the Felix Nmecha case
The process is very reminiscent of Felix Nmecha’s move from VfL Wolfsburg to Borussia Dortmund a year and a half ago. At the time, after anger over his social media activities, the midfielder claimed that he loved everyone. The BVB bosses said that Nmecha had “absolutely convinced them in intensive discussions that he did not harbor any transphobic or homophobic ideas” – and went through with the change despite the great resistance of part of the fan scene.
Supporter of the “Flatearther” scene?
The KSV Holstein has now left it open which specific statements are meant in Tolkin’s posts. In the past, Tolkin had apologized for his activities in a US interview during his time with the US national team during the Olympic Games in Paris.
The posts that he marked with a like button are also said to be posts from the so-called “Flatearther” scene. This movement advocates that the Earth is a disk rather than a sphere. This theory has some supporters, especially in the United States.
Tolkin: “I want to concentrate on football”
In his circle of friends and his teams, he “always meets a wide variety of people, and I always have a close and trusting relationship with them. That’s why I would like to make it clear that I don’t have any homophobic or discriminatory thoughts in me,” said Tolkin: “That cannot be reconciled with the personal values that were passed on to me from childhood. That’s why it hurts me even more now that my start here at Holstein Kiel is accompanied by this topic. I want to concentrate on it Concentrate on football and help the club and the team sportily.”
The American can possibly do that on Saturday (3:30 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter). Then the Kiel team welcome TSG Hoffenheim at home and want to get their next win after the brilliant start to the year against Dortmund.
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Schleswig-Holstein Magazine | 01/17/2025 | 7:30 p.m
