Sparta Prague player accused of giving Nazi salute

By: Bob | August 31st, 2007

Sparta Prague midfielder Pavel Horvath is facing the scrutiny of the Czech football federation after being accused of giving a Nazi salute to his club’s fans in the closing seconds of a match against Viktoria Zizkov. “It is a big misunderstanding,” Horvath said. “I am really not a fascist.” The club, whose fans have gotten into hot water previously for anti-Semitic and racist chants, claims that Horvath was simply trying to calm fans down. Apparently the gesture in the video above is the universal symbol for calm. Just ask Paolo Di Canio.



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Comments  

  • Sam |  August 31st, 2007 at 10:43 am

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    Well I don’t know much about him, but he didn’t give the sign with loads of conviction, it may be just a mistake.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • Juan Carlos Sol |  August 31st, 2007 at 11:00 am

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    jaja so what if he gave a fascist salute, there is something know as freedom of speech so he has every right to do WHATEVER THE HELL HE WANTS as long as it hurts no one…

    so what if he is a facist? it0s not liek he is going to be president ajaaj

    Posted from El Salvador El Salvador

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  • Ian |  August 31st, 2007 at 11:15 am

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    “as long as it hurts no one” … yeah, who’d a little fascism ever hurt? … Juan, the football world is pretty much agreed that racism is not protected as free speech in football, and a Nazi salute is racist. That being said, I’m not entirely sure that’s what this is … it’s certainly not clear enough to fine or censure the guy. If that’s what he meant, throw the book at him, but I’m not convinced.

    Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

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  • Brian |  August 31st, 2007 at 11:20 am

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    I wonder why this is getting more attention than a group of Maccabi Haifa fans singing songs denouncing Islam and Muhammed? Oh, wait nevermind, that’s not illegal like antisemitism basically is in Europe.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Ian |  August 31st, 2007 at 11:30 am

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    I’m not defending the double standard, Brian, because I agree with you, but the fact that anti-semitism links back to the Nazis is the difference. Europe is scared, and rightfully so, of anything having to do with that time. But, yeah, Haifa fans are just as guilty.

    Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

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  • Jan |  August 31st, 2007 at 12:10 pm

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    As Sam already pointed out, if it is indeed a fascist salute, then it is a quite casual one. On the other hand, I’ve watched the video several times now and it doesn’t really look like he’s trying to calm anyone down either.

    But those videos can be deceiving, I still remember that a video of Lukas Podolski’s penalty against Argentina was making the rounds on blogs, as some people were puzzled whether he gave a fascist salute. Which he obviously didn’t, he was sending a kiss to the audience and the broadcaster cut to a close up of Podolski at an ambiguous moment of that gesture.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGY4xBLtcds

    Posted from Germany Germany

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  • Juan Carlos Sol |  August 31st, 2007 at 1:54 pm

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    well, he can do it as long as he hurts no one… that is why the KKK can still have reunions in the USA, because that is suposedly what they do, have reuninons… but it is not ilegal to give a nazi salute, and what if it’s rasist, I am not a rasist person I believe that anyone can have their own point of view, even if they are based on ignorace and bigotry

    Posted from El Salvador El Salvador

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  • Marcello |  September 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 am

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    total misunderstanding

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Javier De Roque |  September 2nd, 2007 at 4:23 pm

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    i think the American Military salute should be considered racist next maybe.. after all when was the last time they attacked white people ?

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • rich |  September 7th, 2007 at 9:01 am

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    I do not understand anything. Heil !

    Posted from United States

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  • robson |  September 7th, 2007 at 9:03 am

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    mm good videos!

    Posted from United States

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  • Eric |  October 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pm

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    @Javier De Roque - What does that have to do with this discussion? And the answer is 8 years ago in the Kosovo War.

    Posted from United States

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  • Lucifer |  January 6th, 2008 at 3:57 am

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    Heil Hitler!

    Posted from Romania Romania

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  • Thomas |  January 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am

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    it isn’t a nazi salute is it,
    though it disapoints me that nazism is bubbling back up in eastern europe, the majority of which are members of the most economically and socially stable union in the world.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Thomas |  January 6th, 2008 at 10:46 am

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    fuckin ‘ell, im not american, dunno why it showed me as, im english

    Posted from United States United States

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