Mexican soccer team Atlas FC is SLAMMED online after bizarrely using a quote from Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels to defend controversial MLS refereeing call

Mexican soccer team Atlas FC has been widely criticized after quoting Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in its bid to defend a refereeing call.

During the team's MLS Leagues Cup match against New York City FC, a video assistant referee deemed NYCFC's late tying goal offside, and scratched it off the board to confirm Atlas' 1-0 victory.

A prominent YouTuber then criticized the overturned decision, leading to a member of Atlas' social media team hitting back in baffling fashion, quoting Goebbels in a bid to back up their opinion.

Posting to the team's 863,000 followers, they said in Spanish: 'This shot is crystal clear,' alongside a grab of the incident in question.

'The offside happens on the first play. It is unfortunate how "influencers" and media "analysts" manipulate and generate ideas of "supposed aid".

'But remembering what Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Information (Hitler's right-hand man) said applies perfectly: "Lie, Lie Lie [and it will] remain. The bigger a lie, the more people will believe it." @werevertumorro.'

Shocked, the YouTuber Montiel tweeted out again. 'Have you ever had something like this? Do you remember any team making a tweet of this type? Answering an "influencer" (so they say)... and citing a Nazi? I have never considered myself an influencer but fancy influencing an institution that's doing so much juggling.'

The tweet remained up at the time of publishing and generated reactions of confusion and shock.

One soccer journalist wrote, 'Am shocked this is still up after two hours and NO ONE at @AtlasFC doesn't see the issue with a Tweet where not only is Goebbels mentioned but (Hitler's right hand) is there too... INSANE...'

The Tennessean's Drake Hills wrote, 'Quoting the Nazi Minister of Information for an offsides call. This is Leagues Cup (?)'

'I'm very, very, very, very (very) surprised that Atlas still haven't deleted this tweet,' ESPN's Mexico soccer writer Cesar Hernandez said.

Newsday's Ryan Gerbosi wrote, 'Atlas admin referencing Goebbels and the Nazil while complaining about reaction to an offside call *which went its way* was not on my #LeaguesCup bingo card.'

The Athletic's Jeff Rueter said, 'Can't believe we needed to clarify this, but there isn't a single event on a soccer pitch which will ever warrant a comparison to the Holocaust.'

Mexican fans were also shocked by the tweet and its reaction, with one saying, 'In which semester of Communication (school) [are you taught] to associate your brand with the Third Reich?'

Another said, 'And there was no way to explain it without citing Nazis on Monday before noon?'

Atlas plays in the city of Guadalajara - which boasts the second largest Jewish population in the country behind the capital of Mexico City.