Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute by allegedly making a Nazi salute.
The 31-year-old denies making the gesture in a picture posted on Instagram by his German team-mate Max Meyer as the players celebrated their FA Cup win against Grimsby earlier this month.
Hennessey Sets Clean Sheets Target
“Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3,” the FA announced on Twitter.
“It is alleged that a gesture he made, which was captured by a photograph and posted on social media, breached Rule E3[1] as it was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
“It is further alleged that this constitutes an ‘Aggravated Breach’, which is defined in Rule E3[2], as it included reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion and/or belief.
“Hennessey has until 31 January 2019 to respond to the charge.”
Hennessey was seen in the background of a group photograph posted on Meyer’s Instagram story, which has subsequently expired.
The Wales international has 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 was “absolutely coincidental”.
