A 20 year-old Greek footballer who had a trial with Everton last year admits his career may be over after a highly controversial goal celebration earlier this month.
By Declan Whooley
Giorgos Katidis scored the winning goal in AEK Athens 2-1 victory over Veria, but his celebration sparked an outrage, when he appeared to mimic the Nazi salute.
His club moved swiftly by suspending him for the rest of the season while the Greek FA have come down even harder, banning him from all levels of international football for life after describing the celebration as “a sever provocation” that insulted “all the victims of Nazi beastiality”.
Ill-advised to put it mildly
Katidis, who has been capped at U-17, U-19 and U-21 level has said he is not a fascist and that he was trying to pay his respects with the gesture.
“I did not know what I was doing. I thought that my celebration means respect,” he told a disciplinary committee.
“Do you know any footballer at the age of 20 who would knowingly want to put an end to his career?”
He has apologised unreservedly for his actions, which coincides with the rise of the country’s neo-fascist Golden Dawn party, which now has 18 seats in Greece’s 300-seat parliament.
Maybe Katidis had just been watching Father Ted recently and got a little carried away.
