Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey charged over alleged Nazi salute

Wales international Wayne Hennessey has been charged by the Football Association over an alleged Nazi salute.

The photo, which first emerged on German team-mate Max Meyer’s Instagram account, appears to show the 31-year-old goalkeeper breaching FA rules by raising his right arm into the air in an alleged Nazi salute.

The picture was taken on Saturday 5 January as all of the Crystal Palace players were having a celebratory meal after winning two games on the bounce in addition to their new year celebration.

The post has since been removed from Meyer’s Instagram account following a public backlash. Hennessey took to Twitter to protest his innocence at the time saying “any resemblance to the gesture in question was absolutely coincidental”.

Describing the scenario the keeper said:

The code that this incident supposedly breaks is relating to abusive, insulting or improper conduct, that brings the game into disrepute.

The breach of conduct has been labelled ‘aggravated’ by the FA due to the issue in question being to do with ethnic origin, race, religion or belief.

Hennessey has until January 31st to respond to the FA’s ruling should he wish to appeal.

Palace are having to play 39-year-old veteran keeper Julián Speroni due to both Hennessey and Vicente Guaita both being currently injured, the former of the two has been out since mid-December with a muscle strain related problem.