The Korea Herald

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[World Cup] Pitch invader was neo-Nazi sympathizer

By Korea Herald

Published : June 23, 2014 - 20:02

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― The man who invaded the pitch during the Germany-Ghana match at the World Cup was a neo-Nazi sympathizer, according to a report that will be delivered to FIFA on Monday.

The fans’ anti-discrimination network, Fare, is preparing a report on Saturday’s incident, when a shirtless fan interrupted play.

Messages written on his chest and back included “HH,” signifying Heil Hitler, and “SS,” referring to the Nazi paramilitary unit.

“There would be no other explanation for it,” Fare executive director Piara Powar told the Associated Press on Sunday. “The question becomes how does one control an individual fan who chooses to mark his body and jumps on the pitch to propagate his neo-Nazi views.”

Fare’s report will also refer to fans wearing blackface makeup at the match in Fortaleza with no intervention by stadium security, Powar said.

Both incidents are “currently being analyzed by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” the governing body said.