March 18 – A top-flight Greek footballer has been handed a life ban from the national team for making a Nazi salute to fans. AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis (pictured), former captain of Greece’s under-19 team, conceded the “stupidity” of his actions after making the gesture in celebrating his winning goal in a 2-1 win over lowly Veria on Saturday.
Announcing the punishment, the Hellenic Football Federation said what Katidis did was “a profound insult to all victims of Nazi atrocities” and condemned it “unequivocally and categorically”. The federation said the ban was unanimously endorsed by its executive committee at an extra-ordinary meeting.
Katidis initially denied he gave a Nazi salute, saying he merely pointed to the stands to dedicate his goal to a teammate recovering from health problems.
He insisted he was neither a fascist nor a racist. “I feel terrible for those I upset with the stupidity of my act,” Katidis said. “I made the mistake so I will be the one to pay for it, AEK is not responsible. I understand fully the reasons for the decision made by the Greek Football Federation to which I owe a huge apology as it has helped me to get where I am in the professional game.”
“Unfortunately I cannot turn the clock back but I want to clarify that I am not a fascist or neo-Nazi or racist. I have a step brother from Puerto Rico and all my family are from the Black Sea and have experienced racism in the worst ways. There is no reason to look for excuses.
“I was completely wrong and I will pay for it with a lot of pain because despite being only 20 years old my career is now at risk. I sincerely apologise to my team mates and everyone involved with the club that I have insulted in not knowing exactly what I had done in my celebration. Nonetheless, the fact that I did not know what I was doing is no excuse.”
No sooner had the impromptu salute been made at the Olympic stadium than angry fans took to social media networks to express their outrage. Sunday marked the 70th anniversary of Greek Jew deportations in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. But on Twitter Katidis once again responded: “I am not a fascist and would not have done it if I had known what it meant.”
AEK’s German coach Ewald Lienen backed that stance. “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,” Lienen said.
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