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Sparta Prague player accused of giving Nazi salute

By: Bob | August 31st, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoCfjlCHh8s

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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Category: Europe, World Football

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Thomas

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

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.
Lucifer

Heil Hitler!
Eric

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

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

total misunderstanding
Juan Carlos Sol

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
Jan

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...
Ian

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.
Brian

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.
Ian

"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.
Juan Carlos Sol

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
Sam

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.

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