Slovan Bratislava general manager charged over Nazi salute

On Monday the National Crime Agency's (NAKA) anti-terrorist unit pressed charges against vice president and general manager of the ŠK Slovan Bratislava football club, Ivan Kmotrik Jr., for the offence of demonstrating sympathy to a movement advocating for the suppression of fundamental rights and freedoms. The offence allegedly happened during the Slovakia Cup football match between Slovan Bratislava and MFK Ružomberok in Trnava in May. During half-time, Kmotrik Jr went on the grandstand to calm down the Slovan fans. He then stepped down to the pitch, turned to the fans and started chanting with them vulgarly. The television cameras also recorded him performing the Nazi salute by extending his right arm into the air with a straightened hand. The Slovak Football Association's (SFZ) disciplinary committee issued him with a fine amounting to €10,000 and banned him from access to the players' changing rooms, the technical zone as well as to the team benches until the end of the year.