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Stadion von Sinsheim, just before kick-off of the match between Germany and Israel on March 26th
Photo: Alexander Scheuber / Getty Images for DFB
At the international match of the German national soccer team on Saturday evening against Israel (2-0), a spectator apparently gave the Hitler salute, according to the police.
It is therefore a 28-year-old man who was identified during the game in Sinsheim and led out of the auditorium.
A criminal complaint awaits him, said a police spokesman on Sunday.
Sport1 first reported on the incident.
On Monday, the police want to publish further information in an official statement.
According to Sport1, the man faces serious legal consequences in addition to a lifelong nationwide stadium ban.
In Germany, the Hitler salute is punishable by either a fine or imprisonment.
Before the start of the World Cup year in front of 25,600 spectators in the sold-out arena, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) spoke out against anti-Semitism in a video message, among other things.
National coach Hansi Flick and DFB director Oliver Bierhoff emphasized that it was a very special game for the German national team in terms of history.
Flick: relationship “of friendship and connectedness”
The national coach had written on the national team's Twitter account before the game: "On the one hand, this is the start of our World Cup year, which we are really looking forward to.
On the other hand, games against #Israel are always special.
The relationship between these two countries is characterized by friendship and solidarity.
I am very excited about it."
The German national team played their 986th international match against Israel on Saturday.
From a sporting point of view, Flick made a successful start to the World Cup year with a 2-0 win.
It was the eighth win in the eighth game since Flick took office as Joachim Löw's successor.
The goals for the hosts were scored by Chelsea pros Kai Havertz (36th minute) and Timo Werner (45+1).
Thomas Müller hit the post with a penalty just before the end.
At the other end, Kevin Trapp saved an Israeli penalty in injury time.
The national coach used the game for a series of personal experiments.
The next test for the World Cup in Qatar is on Tuesday in the Netherlands.
The encounter is considered the first real endurance test in the Flick era.
jus/sid/dpa