Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been cleared of any wrongdoing for an alleged anti-semitic gesture posted to Instagram in January.
The Wales international shot-stopper was pictured with his right arm in the air and his left hand across his mouth, in an image posted to Palace teammate Max Meyer’s Instagram page following the club’s FA Cup win over Grimsby in January.
The 32-year old had been accused of imitating a nazi salute in the picture, which featured many of the Crystal Palace squad at a team meal.
However, the Football Association have cleared Hennessey of any wrongdoing, saying he will face no punishment after the charge was found not proven by an independent regulatory commission, as reported by BBC Sport.
The 32-year-old had originally denied the charge, claiming that any resemblance to the Nazi gesture was “absolutely coincidental”.
The Wales international has previously said he “waved and shouted at the person taking the picture to get on with it” and “put my hand over my mouth to make the sound carry”.
The FA had alleged that the action could have breached its rules that related to abusive, insulting or improper conduct that would bring the game into disrepute.
The governing body had also said it constituted an ‘aggravated breach’ because it included reference to ethnic origin, race, religion or belief.
