Spanish footballer Javi Poves renamed his Spanish football club, Mostoles Balompie, to Flat Earth FC last Friday. He has since defended the conspiracy to critics by questioning people’s motives behind proving him wrong, Newsweek reports. The football player claims he’s “never felt the earth move”.
Mr Poves told radio station Cadena Ser: “There is a huge economic motive for which many people want to convince us that the earth is round.
“If the Earth is spherical, why are so many people scared?”
He went on to challenge Spanish science minister and former astronaut Pedro Duque to a debate about the Earth curvature.
Mr Poves said: “He will retreat and won’t confront me because he will end up losing.
READ MORE: YouTube star Logan Paul to trek Antarctica to prove EARTH IS FLAT
“I can show he is an impostor, he earns a lot of money by telling lies.
“There is a cool reward for whoever gets a photo of space that isn’t CGI. I have never felt the earth move.
“I’m still waiting for you to show me: how does water curve?”
However, a spokesman for Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities told Newsweek Mr Duque would not debate whether the Earth is round.
He said: “In this case, questioning scientific evidence is simply ignorant.
“It can even become dangerous in matters of public health, such as those who question the safety of vaccines.”
The flat-Earth conspiracy has recently gained momentum as it gains supporters online.
Flat-earthers argue large bodies of water should sit level on Earth rather than curving to its shape.