Arsenal news: Valencia fans filmed making Nazi salutes and racist gestures during Europa League semi-final
Uefa are expected to open an investigation into the incident, while Kick It out have released a statement
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Your support makes all the difference.Valencia supporters have been filmed making Nazi salutes and racist gestures after the Spanish side were defeated 3-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates.
In a video shared on social media, a small cluster of travelling fans can be seen leaning over the barrier, imitating a monkey and performing one-armed Nazi salutes.
Six Valencia fans were kicked out of the stadium, however, it’s unclear if those caught on video were amongst that number.
Arsenal have released a statement in response to the incident which read: “We are working with Valencia on this. We utterly condemn such behaviour. It has no place in society or football.
“We continue to encourage fans to report incidents and to provide witness statements so effective action can be taken.”
Valencia have released a statement in response the video which read:
"In relation to the images in the stands of Arsenal Stadium appearing on social networks, Valencia CF:
"1. Publicly condemns bluntly and expresses its firmest rejection and zero tolerance, as it has always done, towards the isolated gestures of people located in the visitor’s stand and that, evidently, do not represent in any way the Valencian fans.
"2. In contact with its legal services, it is working on the identification of the responsible persons to proceed, in case of being subscribed to the club, to take the corresponding disciplinary measures, for which requests the collaboration of the rest of the fans located in said tier .
"3. Although these attitudes are absolutely unjustifiable in any case, the VCF is trying to obtain information, in the same way, about possible provocations prior to said verbal and gestural confrontation between people from the local and visitor stands."
Uefa are expected to open an investigation to the incident after being made aware of the footage, while Kick It Out released a statement condemning the acts of blatant racism.
“These blatant racist gestures are shocking and inexcusable,” a statement read.
“We hope the relevant authorities identify the perpetrators and take the strongest possible punishment.
“There is no place for any form of discrimination in football or society.”
The video continues a string of high profile racist incidents which have marred football over the past months.
Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi were all racially abused during England’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro in March, while Kalidou Koulibaly, Moise Kean and Tiémoué Bakayoko have been targeted by crowds in Italy.
A number of players have also aired the vile abuse they are consistently receiving via social media, including Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha and Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
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