Arizona Senator’s Mexico Jersey Sparks Controversy

Arizona’s Democratic Senator Mark Kelly faced criticism after showing up to a FIFA watch party for the Mexican national team wearing a Mexico jersey. This stirred a notable public reaction, particularly on social media.

On Sunday, Kelly shared a photo of himself and his wife, Gabby Giffords, both dressed in the Mexican team’s colors, despite the U.S. still being in the tournament. He captioned the post, noting, “So many people are coming to Tucson to watch Mexico play England. Tucson and La Rosa know how to do a World Cup!”

This post didn’t sit well with fans and analysts of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT). Fox News analyst Clay Travis criticized Kelly’s loyalty by asking, “What do you think about American politicians wearing other countries’ jerseys and rooting for them in public at tournaments where the United States plays? There’s a zero percent chance that any American sports fan I know would do that.”

Retired Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson, a former U.S. Air Force officer, also weighed in, suggesting Kelly was hypocritical by promoting his own interests while seeming to support a foreign team. He commented on social media, “this guy who loves to promote his own space stuff is the same guy who told our men and women in uniform to stand against our commander in chief (treason) is a Mexican fan.” He went on to call it “a trace.”

Philadelphia radio host Nick Keyal expressed his frustration too, declaring on social media, “Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona wore a Mexico uniform at the World Cup while the U.S. was in the final 16. This is a complete violation.”

Among the backlash, former Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker answered Kelly’s post, labeling him a “clown” and suggesting he should “Go to Mexico you bastard.”

Meanwhile, the match itself concluded with England narrowly defeating Mexico 3-2, a close contest with Mexico’s chances slipping away.