• FA says breach had been ‘found not proven’ by commission • Goalkeeper accused of gesture during team meal in January

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been cleared of making a racist gesture during a club meal, the Football Association has announced.

Hennessey, 32, denied making the gesture in a picture posted on Instagram by his German teammate Max Meyer as the players celebrated their FA Cup win against Grimsby in January.

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The Welsh goalkeeper had requested a personal hearing, after which the FA said a breach of the disciplinary rules had been “found not proven” by an independent regulatory commission.

A statement from the FA on Friday morning said: “It was alleged that a gesture he made, which was captured by a photograph and posted on social media, was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, contrary to FA Rule E3(1).

“It was further alleged that this constituted an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3 (2), as it included reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion and/or belief. The Crystal Palace goalkeeper had denied the charge and requested a personal hearing.”

The Wales international denied he was making a such a salute, claiming on Twitter that he was calling out to the person taking the photograph and any resemblance to a Nazi salute was “absolutely coincidental”.

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In a post on 6 January, Hennessey said: “I waved and shouted at the person taking the picture to get on with it and at the same time put my hand over my mouth to make the sound carry.

“It’s been brought to my attention that frozen in a moment by the camera this looks like I am making a completely inappropriate type of salute.

“I can assure everyone I would never ever do that and any resemblance to that kind of gesture is absolutely coincidental. Love and peace Wayne.”