FA charge Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Wayne Hennessey has been charge by the FA for allegedly making a Nazi salute – something which has fiercely been denied by the Crystal Palace goalkeeper.
The charge facing the 31-year-old Wales international stems from a picture posted on team-mate Max Meyer’s Instagram page.
The FA said: “Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.
“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 posted a message on Twitter at the start of this month. He said: “Yesterday evening I had a meal with my team mates and we had a group photograph. 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.”