Greek FA ban footballer after Nazi salute
Giorgos Katidis claims he was unaware of the meaning of the gesture
AEK Athens' Giorgos Katidis has been banned from the Greek national side for life for this celebration. Photograph: Giannis Liakos/Icon/Reuters
AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis has been banned from all Greek national teams for life for making a Nazi salute on the pitch.
The Hellenic Football Federation announced the punishment in a statement today, saying the action was “a profound insult to all victims of Nazi atrocities” and they condemned it “unequivocally and categorically”.
The Federation said ban was unanimous decision from the executive committee at an extra-ordinary meeting.
AEK have demanded an apology from the player and said the board would meet to decide his future. Katidis raised his right arm in an apparent Nazi salute after scoring the winning goal in his side’s 2-1 Super League win over Veria.
The 20-year-old had been heavily criticised on social media for the celebration, although he has insisted he did not know the meaning of the gesture.
He reportedly claimed he was pointing to team-mate Michalis Pavlis, who is recovering from injury, in the crowd.
Katidis wrote on Twitter: “I am not racist in any way. “I abhor fascism. I would not have done it if I knew that it meant something. I know the consequences and would not do it ever.”
Katidis has played for Greece’s Under-17, U19 and U21 teams, but has not been capped at senior level.
