Arsenal striker Robin van Persie scored three goals in a 5-3 win over Chelsea Saturday, but he’s been scrutinized for the way he celebrated his second goal. Van Persie pointed his arm from his shoulder outward, similar to the Nazi “Heil Hitler” salute. While the unintentional act may have resembled the salute, van Persie immediately cleared everything up Sunday.
“It has been brought to my attention of some ridiculous allegations concerning my celebration of one of my goals yesterday,” Van Persie wrote on his Twitter account. “It is totally ludicrous to suggest that my action of brushing my shoulder and pointing to my fans could be construed as anything else but of a showing of joy and celebration. To suggest this meant anything to the contrary is insulting and absolutely absurd as nothing else came into my mind.”
It is ludicrous that people suggested his celebration was a Nazi salute. It’s ridiculous that he had to deny the accusations via his Twitter account. But if you can’t laugh about this whole situation, then you don’t have a sense of humor.
How does a simple celebration following a goal — not unlike the Mile High Salute — end up becoming a charge of supporting Nazism? Only on the internet.
Here’s a video of his “salute”:
