Tim Tillman’s Liga MX Comments Hint At Unfortunate Mexican Stereotypes

Mexican soccer has taken plenty of flak the last few years.

The national team has under-performed in Concacaf and on the world stage since 2020, going winless in its last four competitive matches against the rival United States and failing to advance from its World Cup group for the first time in 40 years.

Off the field, a segment of El Tri fans continue to persist in a homophobic chant that has resulted in repeated use of anti-discrimination protocols. A larger faction of fans and media have continued to show unfair skepticism of national team managers who aren’t Mexican citizens and national team players with dual-national roots.

Domestically, Liga MX finally lost its stranglehold on the Concacaf Champions League and by proxy, it’s claim of superiority over MLS, when the Seattle Sounders defeated UNAM Pumas in the 2022 final. Now LAFC is favored over Club Leon in this year’s final, which begins in Wednesday night’s first leg in Mexico.

Some have questioned whether Liga MX’s collaboration with MLS on the upcoming Leagues Cup and other initiatives actually has as many mutual benefits as leaders of both leagues have alleged. Others had decried the temporary ban on promotion and relegation as policy that has made the quality of the league worse.

So there’s plenty of legitimate criticisms to make about the sport regarding Concacaf’s original giant.

But the bizarre analysis of Liga MX made by LAFC’s Timothy Tillman Monday showed none of that subject knowledge. And in the context of American-Mexican dynamics beyond soccer, the remarks were worse than ignorant. Intentional or not, they echoed unfortunate negative American stereotypes of Mexican culture.

For a refresher, here is exactly what Tillman said on the matter:

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“I think Mexican teams usually don’t play that tactical, it’s more or less emotional, very much 1-v-1, it’s all about fighting, it’s all about the emotions. Of course they’ve got quality up front. But if we play well, I’m sure we can win over there.”

It’s not a huge leap from those comments to more malicious generalizations that are used to deny Mexican Americans fair social and educational services, or to justify inhumane treatment of Mexican or other Latino immigrants risking life and limb to try and enter the country illegally.

It’s this acceptance that Mexican culture is somehow more emotional, more macho, more violent, less intellectual, less civilized and thus less deserving of dignity and rights than Anglo-American culture.

To be clear, it’s unlikely Tillman was purposefully engaging in or trying to perpetuate such a message.

Like his brother Malik, Timothy Tillman was born in Germany and developed through the German youth system. He is in only his first few months as a pro on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. And his remarks are similar to those made by many European MLS players about MLS itself when they first arrive. Toronto FC star Federico Bernardeschi just made a similar assertion about his manager Bob Bradley, who is regarded as one of the best soccer minds America has ever produced.

So the origin of these remarks is more likely about the difference between the game in the Americas at large and the game in continental Europe. (That MLS and its clubs seem hell-bent on trying poorly replicate European football culture when it is a much easier fit with the equally vibrant footballing culture of the rest of the Americas is another topic.)

But also like his brother, Tillman has also filed for a one-time international switch to represent the United States at the senior international level (their eligibility comes via their American-born father). And he’s speaking on behalf of an American club that has arguably the largest Mexican-American fan base in the league. It’s a context that makes those comments feel worse and worse the longer you think about them.

So far, most American fans have debated mostly whether Tillman’s assertions were accurate or wise, given their potential motivational use for their opponent. That misses the more basic point, that they were harmful and unfair to more than a pro sports league.

This is a truth in LAFC’s own best interest to acknowledge, explain to Tillman and correct. After all, the Black-and-Gold’s most famous player and captain is Mexican, and a significant core of their fans are Mexican Americans. What’s worse than giving bulletin board material for your opponents? Giving it to your own fans.