Hennessey has shown a "deplorable degree of ignorance" about Hitler

A committee of the Football Association found that Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey had shown a "deplorable" lack of knowledge about Hitler, fascism and the Nazi regime.

The Welsh international has been declared not guilty this month to make a Nazi salute after being photographed with his right arm in the air and his left hand on his mouth on a photo published by his teammate of Palace, Max Meyer, on Instagram.

Despite Hennessey not subject to any sanction, the FA published Tuesday the reasons for its decision in writing.

"Mr. Hennessey categorically denied making a Nazi salute," said the FA commission.

"Indeed, from the outset, he said that he did not even know what it was. As unlikely as it may seem to us, members of an older generation, we do not reject this assertion as being false.

"In fact, when cross-examined on this subject, Mr. Hennessey showed a very considerable, if not deplorable, degree of ignorance about everything related to Hitler, Fascism. and the Nazi regime.

"Even though it's unfortunate that anyone is unaware of such an important part of our history and that of our world, we do not think we should find that it does not say the truth about it.

"All we would say (at the risk of seeming condescending) is that Mr. Hennessey would be well advised to become familiar with events that are always meaningful to those living in a free country."