Manager backs Hennessey over alleged salute
Roy Hodgson is convinced Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey will avoid punishment from the Football Association over his alleged Nazi salute.
Hennessey, the Wales international, has decided to contest the FA’S charge after he was pictured in a photograph with his right arm in the air during a night out with team-mates following Palace’s 1-0 FA Cup victory over Grimsby last month.
The 32-year-old has insisted any comparisons to a Nazi gesture were “absolutely coincidental”, saying that 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”. He will appear before a hearing, with the date yet to be arranged.
The FA is arguing that his actions breach its rules relating to abusive, insulting or improper conduct and bring the game into disrepute.
Hennessey made his first appearance for Palace since the controversy in the 2-0 win at Doncaster yesterday and Hodgson does not expect any sanctions.
“We believe he is totally innocent of any charge being made, although we do understand in this current climate that the FA are duty bound to research anything,” he said. “I had no doubts about him playing. He deserves to play and was very good today.
“Whatever the draw is I would expect him to play in the next one too.”
The Palace manager added: “The charge is what it is. We’ve spoken about that at great length. We are both hoping and confident that charge won’t lead to any particular sanctions.”