Wayne Hennessey: Crystal Palace goalkeeper given additional time to respond to FA charge after alleged Nazi salute

The Wales international was spotted in a picture posted by Eagles team-mate Max Meyer

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been given an additional two weeks to respond to a charge of bringing the game into disrepute after allegedly making a Nazi salute, the Football Association have announced.

The 31-year-old has vehemently denied the accusation after a post on Instagram from German team-mate Max Meyer showed the goalkeeper posing during a dinner to celebrate their FA Cup win against Grimsby.

The Wales international insists it was "absolutely coinicidental," and that he was merely calling out to the unnamed person taking the photograph.

A statement from the FA on Thursday read: “Following an application to the chairman of the judicial panel, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been granted an extension of 16:00 on February 15, 2019 to respond to his recent charge of breaching FA Rule E3.”

Hennessey was initially charged on January 23 and the previous deadline to respond was January 31.

The initial statement read: “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.”

Hennessey denies the accusation after a picture emerged on Instagram (Max Meyer / Instagram)

Hennessey's statement to deny the accusation 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.

File photo dated 01-10-2018 of Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. (PA)

“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.”