Palace goalkeeper showed 'lamentable degree of ignorance' about Adolf Hitler, fascism and the Nazi regime - panel finds
Tuesday 16 April 2019 14:21, UK
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey "did not know what a Nazi salute was", an independent panel has found.
Earlier this month Hennessey was cleared by the FA of making an offensive gesture during a team night out after he was pictured with one arm raised and one over his mouth - in what was alleged to be a 'Nazi salute' - in a social media post from German team-mate Max Meyer.
The 32-year-old will face no punishment, with the panel accepting Hennessey displayed "a very considerable - one might even say lamentable - degree of ignorance" about anything to do with Adolf Hitler, fascism and the Nazi regime.
The panel went on to say Hennessey would be "well advised to familiarise himself with events which continue to have great significance to those who live in a free country".
The Palace goalkeeper was charged in January by the FA, who alleged Hennessey "brought the game into disrepute" and that his gesture "included reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion and/or belief".
He denied the charge and requested a personal hearing, and an independent disciplinary commission found the charge "not proven".
As part of his defence, Crystal Palace provided Hennessey with a number of photographs of himself using a similar gesture during a game, to prove that this is how he communicates when shouting.
