There were “F–k you, Jozy!” chants directed at Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore and similar ones directed at teammate Michael Bradley.

The former Metrostars players were harassed relentlessly by fans Monday during Toronto FC’s 2-1 win over the Red Bulls in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Red Bull Arena. Fans in attendance ruthlessly booed — and cursed — two of the main faces from the United States men’s national team. On the surface, the booing and heckling seemed warranted after the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the first time since 1986.

After the match, Altidore blasted his former club’s fans, calling them “classless” for how they treated him and Bradley. Altidore’s jab at Red Bulls’ fans, however, goes beyond the pair’s stellar performance Monday night; the forward was defending his beliefs off the field.

“My mother raised us as Jehovah’s Witness, and there were comments being said that my beliefs have no place in this country. It’s ridiculous,” Altidore told the Toronto Sun in an interview published Wednesday. “Coming off the field — with Tosaint Ricketts and Raheem Edwards as my witness — there’s a [fan] standing a foot away from me telling me I have no idea what it’s like to represent this country, that I didn’t die for this country and I don’t deserve to be in this country because I don’t put my hand on my heart and that I don’t sing [the Star-Spangled Banner].”

Altidore’s substitution, in the 87th minute Monday night, ignited the loudest jeers in Red Bull Arena. At the end of the match, numerous fans were hurling insults behind the press box mainly pertaining to his national team failure.

“I have no issue with the booing and you feeling that myself and Michael and others are responsible for not qualifying for the World Cup. You’re right,” Altidore said.

But when fans target his personal values, Altidore, 27, takes offense.

“It wasn’t the ‘F—k you, Jozy.’ It wasn’t the ‘F—k you, Mike.’ I have no problem with that,” he said. “The booing me as a player, I have no issue. But when you start to attack people in different ways when it comes to religion or patriotism, that’s what I meant by ‘classless.’”

In an interview with Goal in 2015, Altidore attempted to clarify why he doesn’t put his hand over his heart during the national anthem: He wasn’t taught to growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness.

“Birthdays, holidays, stuff like that, so (not putting my hand on my heart) has nothing to do with me being against the country, or being any less American,” Altidore said.

“I love my country. I’m very American,” he added. “I love playing for the U.S., and I hope people understand that that’s why I don’t do it.”