Breaking News English

A Greek football player has been [binned / banned] from playing for his country for life after [dealing / making] a Nazi salute on the pitch. AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis, 20, made the [gesture / gesticulate] after scoring the winning goal [of / for] his team on Saturday. The Greek Football Federation (EPO) acted [swiftly / swift] in administering its punishment. An EPO statement read: "The player's action [to / of] salute to spectators in a Nazi manner is a [severance / severe] provocation, insults all the victims of Nazi cruelty and [injures / injuries] the deeply pacifist and human character of the game." The player will [face / head] a disciplinary hearing next week in which he will have the opportunity to explain his side of the story. It is possible he can continue playing [in / at] club level.

Mr Katidis, a former [captain / general] of the Greek Under-19 team, admitted that his actions were ["stupid" / "stupidity"] "". He told reporters: "I made the mistake so I will be the one to [spend / pay] for it. AEK is not responsible, so that is why I have decided to put [mine / myself] out of the team because I have now realized how [many / much] I have offended the history of the club." He added: "Unfortunately, I cannot [take / rake] the clock back, but I want to [clarify / clearly] that I am not a fascist or neo-Nazi or racist." AEK's German coach Ewald Lienen has [balked / backed] Katidis. He told the Reuters news agency: "Giorgos is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He [most / much] likely saw such a salute on the Internet or somewhere else and did it without [knowing / known] what it means."