Three men charged under new hate crime laws banning Nazi imagery after alleged fascist salutes at a football match
- Three football fans charged under new laws
- Laws have banned the display of Nazi images
- Fans reportedly raised their arms in the Nazi salute
- Alleged hate crimes occurred during the Australia Cup final
Three men have been charged under new NSW laws banning the display of Nazi images following an alleged hate crime incident during a football match at Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium last year.
Police launched an investigation after a highly charged Australia Cup final between Sydney United 58 and Macarthur FC last October.
Supporters of semi-professional club Sydney United were widely condemned after allegedly raising their arms in a Nazi salute.
Footage from the match showed Sydney United’s 58 supporters raising their arms in apparent ‘Sieg Heil’ salute, while some of their fellow fans reportedly sang a chant linked to a Croatian far-right movement.
On Friday, after an extensive police investigation that saw detectives review hours of broadcast and CCTV footage, officers charged three men.
Three football fans have been charged under new NSW laws banning the display of Nazi images. A fan at the Australia Cup final appeared to give the Sieg Heil salute (pictured)
Police launched an investigation after a highly charged Australia Cup final between Sydney United 58 and Macarthur FC last October (pictured, fans at the October final)
Police issued a 24-year-old man from Beverley Park with a notice to attend court and charged him with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse.
A 44-year-old Doonside man and a 45-year-old Wetherill Park man were charged with the same offence.
All three will appear before Parramatta local court on April 19.
Last year, the government introduced new legislation that banned the public display of Nazi and other symbols related to anti-Semitism and racism.
It is the first high-profile case in which a person has been charged with the office.
On Friday, after an extensive police investigation in which detectives examined hours of broadcast footage and CCTV footage, officers charged three men (pictured, fans at the cup final)
Anyone found guilty of displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse faces a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison and/or an $11,000 fine.
After the Australia Cup final, the alleged actions of the fans were criticized by Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet.
Mr Perrottet said he was appalled by the fans’ behavior and called for life bans.
“My position is that if they are caught, there should be a life ban,” he said last October.
“This behavior is unacceptable in our great country.”
Sydney United fans dominated the 16,461 crowd at CommBank Stadium during the October final
After the Australia Cup final, the fans’ alleged actions were criticized by Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet (pictured on Saturday)
The top Jewish organization, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, condemned the incident and the alleged actions of the fans.
“The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies condemns the reprehensible behavior of football fans who sang songs to the fascist left and gave Nazi salutes at last night’s Australia Cup final,” the organization said in a statement at the time.
“These vicious salutes have no place in modern Australian society and we call on Football Australia to take immediate action against the perpetrators.”