Giorgos Katidis, a soccer player from Greece, has been banned for life from the Greek national team after his goal celebration Saturday appeared to be a Nazi salute.

Katidis, who had scored the go-ahead goal in AEK Athens’ 2-1 victory over Veria, said he did not know that throwing his arm forward in a raised position was a Nazi gesture.


The governing body of Greek soccer reacted swiftly Sunday in the aftermath, calling the salute “a deep insult to all victims of Nazi brutality.”

The 20-year-old midfielder, a star for Greece’s junior national team, took to Twitter to say he was ignorant of the Nazi salute and that he detests fascism.

AEK Coach Ewald Lienen, who is from Germany, said after the game that Katidis doesn’t have an “idea about politics.”


The Greek soccer league and AEK Athens are also considering penalties.

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