Atlanta United are a new expansion team in the MLS this season, and Ireland's Chris McCann will have our attention when the new season kicks off soon, but the club is taking a bit of a pasting on social media after their fans sent a message to the rest of the league.
This is par for the course at this stage. NYCFC were laughed at for handing out a sheet with the words to the songs (some really, really bad songs) ahead of their debut season, and the same fate has befallen Atlanta United after this clip went viral.
The lyrics really aren't the most passionate or intimidating...
This is Atlanta!
You better watch your mouth
This is Atlanta!
We're gonna stomp you out
Over in ??
Don't mess with the Atlanta United fans... pic.twitter.com/A4523LuEOB— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) February 25, 2017
Now, it's cringey, of course it is, as they're shouting the chants in an empty stadium with fans who can't really have an attachment to the club yet, but at least they're having fun so more power to them.
We don't want to be too harsh, especially as others have done that for us. None, however, were more scathing than the popular American sports site Deadspin, who had the following to say:
If you haven’t yet grasped why American soccer’s penchant for ripping off European fan culture without any of the history or tradition from which the real culture emerged is so embarrassing then these shrieking, bouncing jabronis attempting to show off just how Real Soccer Fan they are by shouting quite simply the stupidest chant of all time, one ostensibly inspired by their undying love for Atlanta United, a brand new, tradition- and history-free expansion franchise that somehow has engendered such devotion without playing a single competitive match, should make the vexing nature of it all viscerally clear.
Ouch.
They did not get much more sympathy as the video continued to spread.
I live in Atlanta and will be cheering for United and still think this is the worst thing https://t.co/k8m3q5hejN
— Katherine (@katherine77) March 1, 2017
I watched the video of the Atlanta United chant, an American soccer team that has played 0 games, and I hate this stupid country even more
— a giant possum ? (@tanner_juicebox) March 1, 2017
I want to love Atlanta United so much, but I really hope that chant doesn't catch on.
— Raj Prashad (@RajPrashad) March 1, 2017
@Sporf This is why Americans should be banned from football
— Siobhan Gallagher (@sgallag90) February 26, 2017
@Sporf Can fans be relegated?
— United States FA (@UnitedStatesFA) February 27, 2017
The term 'ultras' is being very loosly applied, but this was before a pre-season game five hours away, so surely the scenes will be a bit more respectable when the season gets underway.
But really, drop the 'you better watch your mouth' line... It's awful.
