Roy Hodgson has defended Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey after a photograph emerged appearing to show the Wales international making a Nazi salute.
The Palace glovesman was pictured with his right arm in the air and his left hand over his mouth in a photo posted on Instagram by team-mate Max Meyer.
The picture was taken as Crystal Palace’s squad were out for a meal to celebrate their FA Cup third round defeat of Grimsby.
Hennessey has since denied he was making the gesture, releasing a statement on Twitter to explain why his arms were in the incriminating position.
“Yesterday evening I had a meal with my team mates and we had a group photograph,” the statement read. “I waved and shouted at the person taking the picture to get on with it and at the same time put my hand over my mouth to make the sound carry.
“It’s been brought to my attention that frozen in a 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”
The incident is being investigated by the Football Association and Crystal Palace themselves, but Hennessey has no reason to fear according to Hodgson, his manager.
“I believe him totally,” the former England boss said. “I have no reason to disbelieve him.
“The other players had no awareness of anything inappropriate, so much so that they had no idea before the photo was posted that it had happened.
“Wayne has explained himself very satisfactorily to both me and the club. I know Wayne, I know the type of man he is and I have no hesitation whatsoever in backing him and backing his version of the story.”
Hennessey returned to Palace’s starting line-up for the defeat of Grimsby, but he is expected to drop back to the substitutes bench for Palace’s next Premier League match, a home clash against Watford on Saturday.
