Wayne Hennessey: Crystal Palace goalkeeper pictured apparently doing Nazi salute says he was just waving
'I can assure everyone I would never ever do that and any resemblance to that kind of gesture is absolutely coincidental'
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has denied performing a Nazi salute while posing for a picture with team-mates during a celebratory meal on Saturday.
The 31-year-old was forced to repudiate claims he made the offensive gesture after facing a backlash on social media when a picture from German midfielder Max Meyer’s Instagram story emerged.
The image, which has since been deleted, appears to show the Welsh international in the background with his left hand beneath his nose and his right arm raised.
Defending himself on Twitter on Sunday evening, the Premier League player explained he had “waved and shouted” at the person behind the camera to speed them up and put his hand over his mouth to “make the sound carry”.
“Yesterday evening I had a meal with my team-mates and we had a group photograph,” he 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.”
Crystal Palace won 1-0 at home against Grimsby Town in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Grimsby played almost the entire match with 10 men after a player was sent off in the second minute for a high challenge.
The Independent has contacted Crystal Palace FC for comment.