Greek Player banned for life over Nazi Salute

[NishC300 1,865]

AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis has been handed a life ban from all national teams by Greece's FA after he appeared to give a Nazi salute to supporters during a match.

Katidis, 20, a former captain of Greece's under-19 team, made the alleged salute in celebrating his winning goal in a 2-1 Super League victory over lowly Veria late on Saturday.

"The player's action to salute to spectators in a Nazi manner is a severe provocation, insults all the victims of Nazi bestiality and injures the deeply pacifist and human character of the game," the Greek FA said in statement.

Katidis was heavily criticised by political parties and fans on Twitter and Facebook following the incident at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Sunday marks the 70th anniversary of Greek Jew deportations in Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War.

AEK have asked Katidis to explain himself and will then decide his future at a board meeting next week.

Katidis denied he gave a Nazi salute. "I am not a fascist and would not have done it if I had known what it meant," Katidis said on his Twitter account.

The player said he was simply pointing at Michalis Pavlis in the stands to dedicate the goal to his team mate as he continues to fight health problems.

AEK's German coach Ewald Lienen backed Katidis.

"He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He most likely saw such a salute on the Internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means," he said.

"I am 100 percent sure Giorgos did not know what he did. He was crying in the dressing room seeing the reaction."

AEK are languishing in 10th place in the table with 29 points from 26 games. Veria are fourth from bottom.

Katidis joined the club from Aris Salonika last year after impressing in Greece's run to the final of the European Under-19 Championship where they lost to Spain.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/european-football-aek-athens-player-katidis-nazi-salute-225642391.html

[Santiago. 1,500]

Surely it will get appealed?

Then again, if he actually meant it, he wouldn't be bragging about it either

[Rambo 1,729]

I think the real crime here is that a 20 year old didn't know what it meant.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Even if he meant it, a life time ban is way too harsh. There should not be any political gestures on a football field, but I don't imagine he'd get a lifetime ban had he made a different political gesture.

[Kieran. 6,317]

He's full of shit.

[Rambo 1,729]

Even if he meant it, a life time ban is way too harsh. There should not be any political gestures on a football field, but I don't imagine he'd get a lifetime ban had he made a different political gesture.

Indeed. He probably learnt it from Van Persie

[Yeboii 1,844]

I think the real crime here is that a 20 year old didn't know what it meant.

I doubt many football players know a good bit of history

[Amblève. 4,995]

Deserves the ban.

[NishC300 1,865]

Indeed. He probably learnt it from Van Persie

really? What did Van Pussy do?

[Rambo 1,729]

really? What did Van Pussy do?

[NishC300 1,865]

He didn't get punished for that though.

tbh guyz I have looked at this and read ppl's opinion but it doesn't look like a nazi salute it could have been anything else:

It's not like he had a huge tattoo writing "Heil Hitler" or anything like that. A life ban would be a bit harsh. btw does this ban only ban him from playing in Greece? Is he allowed to play in other leagues?

[Kieran. 6,317]

He didn't get punished for that though.

tbh guyz I have looked at this and read ppl's opinion but it doesn't look like a nazi salute it could have been anything else:

It's not like he had a huge tattoo writing "Heil Hitler" or anything like that. A life ban would be a bit harsh. btw does this ban only ban him from playing in Greece? Is he allowed to play in other leagues?

He's banned from the Greek NT for life, which he has 0 caps for. Really not a big deal.

[NishC300 1,865]

He's banned from the Greek NT for life, which he has 0 caps for. Really not a big deal.

yea but he's only 20. He might have got a chance when he grew older.

[Kostas 1,468]

He plays for the team that I support but since I don't care one way or another about the incident I find the difference in the reactions between this and RVP much more interesting.

[zolayes 14,489]

I doubt many football players know a good bit of history

with scousers ,,HISTOREE is ALL they know