Palace keeper Hennessey charged over Instagram post

After Wayne Hennessey was seen holding one hand in the air and the other above his mouth on social media, the FA has charged the goalkeeper.

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over a social media post in which he made an alleged Nazi salute.

Wales international Hennessey denied deliberately making the gesture in a photograph on Instagram posted by his Palace team-mate Max Meyer.

But the FA confirmed on Wednesday that Hennessey has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

"Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3," an FA statement said.

"It is alleged that a gesture he made, which was captured by a photograph and posted on social media, breached Rule E3[1] as it was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.

"It is further alleged that this constitutes an 'Aggravated Breach', which is defined in Rule E3[2], as it included reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion and/or belief."

moment by the camera this looks like I am making a completely inappropriate type of salute. I can assure everyone I would never ever do that and any resemblance to that kind of gesture is absolutely coincidental. Love and peace Wayne

— Wayne Hennessey (@WayneHennessey1) January 6, 2019

Hennessey, who has made 17 Premier League appearances for Palace this season, has been given until January 31 to respond to the FA charge.