Seven players booted out of German team for performing ‘Nazi salute’ in team photo
Shirt sponsor and kebab shop owner asked players to do something 'funny' as they posed together
SEVEN German footballers have been kicked off their team after performing Nazi salutes for a prank in a team photo.
The players from the second team of SC 1920 Myhl - a non-league side in the town of Wassenberg, in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, were caught in a snap posted online.
The teams' shirt sponsor, kebab shop owner Engin Arslan, asked the team to do something 'funny' for a team photo.
And seven players, between the ages of 18 and 27, responded with what appears to be a Nazi salute.
Arslan shared the photo on social media before deleting it minutes later.
The club's executive board were shocked by the image and have now booted out the players.
Authorities are reportedly investigating all of them, with the Nazi salute banned in Germany.
Club chairman Marc Winkens said: "When we found out about it we immediately convened a board meeting. According to our club rules, we could only reach the conclusion to expel the members."
Arslan will no longer sponsor the regional non-league side, who play in the equivalent of the seventh tier of English football. The side's shirts will be replaced.
Winkens said: "It wouldn't be consistent to continue having him as a sponsor."
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According to him, the kebab shop's banner has also already been taken down from the club's ground.
The seven footballers have apologised for their misjudgement by posting a photo with a banner that said: "Sorry... to all the people we have hurt with our rash action."
But the club have not reversed their decision, with Winkens adding: "It was good that they have apologised like that. Nonetheless, the expulsion will not be reversed."
Former sponsor Arslan said: "It was a huge mistake on my part and for that I apologise to the individuals, to the club too... But apparently that won't do any good - I'm sorry for the boys."