Austrian repeat offender gets 18 months for Hitler salute
AFP - [email protected] •
23 Aug, 2017
Updated Wed 23 Aug 2017 08:42 CEST
An Austrian football fan has been given an 18-month prison sentence for a Hitler salute during a match, falling foul of the country's tough laws against Nazi glorification.
The unemployed 39-year-old from top-flight Rapid Vienna's "ultra" wing was spotted performing the banned gesture during a match in August 2016 and sentenced in Vienna on Monday.
"I didn't really give it much thought. But it clearly wasn't a good idea," the skinhead told the court, saying he had had "a few beers and spritzers" before the game.
Similar convictions are relatively common but usually the sentences are suspended. In this case, however, than man had a previous conviction for wishing Hitler happy birthday on Facebook in 2013.
Rapid Vienna is Austria's most successful club with 32 league titles but its hardcore "ultra" supporters have a bad reputation.
Comments
See Also
The unemployed 39-year-old from top-flight Rapid Vienna's "ultra" wing was spotted performing the banned gesture during a match in August 2016 and sentenced in Vienna on Monday.
"I didn't really give it much thought. But it clearly wasn't a good idea," the skinhead told the court, saying he had had "a few beers and spritzers" before the game.
Similar convictions are relatively common but usually the sentences are suspended. In this case, however, than man had a previous conviction for wishing Hitler happy birthday on Facebook in 2013.
Rapid Vienna is Austria's most successful club with 32 league titles but its hardcore "ultra" supporters have a bad reputation.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.