A Dutch airline has been forced to apologise after a World Cup joke at the expense of defeated opponents Mexico backfired.
After the Oranje secured a late comeback win in their last-16 tie against Mexico in Brazil, KLM's corporate Twitter account posted a message which appeared to take things one step too far.
Directly after the 2-1 win was sealed through stoppage-time Arjen Robben penalty, KLM posted a picture of an airport departure sign featuring a mustachioed man in a Sombrero and the words "Adios Amigos!".
Unsurprisingly, the tweet triggered a barrage of criticism, including from Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal, who told his two million followers that he'll never fly with KLM again. The tweet was later deleted without explanation - but not before it was retweeted thousands of times.
"It was meant to be a joke," KLM spokeswoman Lisette Ebeling Koning said, as the airline issued a formal apology.
"In the best of sportsmanship, we offer our heartfelt apologies to those who have been offended by the comment," said Marnix Fruitema, director general of KLM in North America.
