Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Toni Kroos, Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League
Alex Brotherton
Topics: Toni Kroos, Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League
Toni Kroos has been branded a 'hypocrite' for a new social media post he had made just days after being booed in Saudi Arabia.
Kroos was booed by fans during Real Madrid's 5-3 victory against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup last week, played in Saudi Arabia. He was also jeered as Los Blancos thrashed Barcelona 4-1 in the final.
Football fans in the Gulf State didn't appreciate Kroos criticising players for joining Saudi Pro League clubs, nor his comments about the kingdom's human rights record.
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After describing Gabri Veiga's move to Al-Ahli from Celta Vigo - after the youngster was linked to Manchester City and Napoli - as "embarrassing", Kroos said: "It’s been said that they play ambitious football there, but it’s all about money.
"In the end, it’s a decision for money and against football. The lack of human rights, it would prevent me from going."
After the semi-final, Kroos sarcastically wrote "amazing crowd" in an Instagram post.
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However, less than a week later, Kroos has been accused of making a U-turn on his human rights stance.
On Tuesday, Kroos's official X account posted a video of the German promoting Dubai as a tourism destination.
The caption read: "Loved experiencing #DubaiForReal with @realmadrid."
Hundreds of Kroos' followers accused the midfielder of being a hypocrite, as the United Arab Emirates has a human rights record comparable to Saudi Arabia.
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One follower commented: "Money talks, right? Stop being a hypocrite after this."
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Another tweeted: "Toni Kroos clearly doesn't have that many issues with human rights violations."
According to Amnesty International, the UAE "put into effect new laws that significantly curtail freedom of expression and assembly."
The UN Committee against Torture stated its “concern that reports received detail a pattern of torture and ill-treatment against human rights defenders and persons accused of offences against state security."
The UAE has outlawed consensual same-sex relationships between adults and does not recognise the right of refugees to claim asylum.
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SPORTbible has contacted Toni Kroos for comment.