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AEK Athens' Giorgos Katidis pleads ignorance after giving Nazi salute in goal celebration

By: The Associated Press

Sunday, Mar. 17, 2013 at 9:00 AM | Comments: 0

AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis raises his hand in a Nazi style salute as he celebrates scoring the winning goal in a Greek league game against Veria in Athens' Olympic Stadium, Saturday, March 16, 2013. AEK won the game 2-1. There has been no official reaction yet to the gesture, which has raised a storm of protest on the Internet. (AP Photo/INTIME)

ATHENS, Greece - AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis has earned rebukes from politicians, fellow athletes and fans after appearing to give a Nazi salute in celebration of a goal he scored in the Greek league.

Photographs show him giving a Nazi salute after scoring the winning goal in the 84th minute in the 2-1 victory over visiting Veria on Saturday. In one photo, Katidis' Brazilian-born teammate, Roger Guerreiro, looks at him with an expression of astonishment.

The 20-year-old Katidis pleaded ignorance of the meaning of his gesture — right arm extended and hand straightened. He claimed on his Twitter account that he detests fascism.

AEK's German coach, Ewald Lienen, said the player doesn't have an "idea about politics."

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