Rot-Weiss Essen condemns fan's Hitler salute

German soccer club Rot-Weiss Essen has issued a strong condemnation of a fan who displayed a Hitler salute during their recent match against Saarbrücken. The club, competing in the third division, stated that they "resolutely oppose racist, unconstitutional, xenophobic, and other discriminatory or inhumane behavior." The gesture is considered a criminal offense, and the club distanced itself from the act.

The incident, captured on television and shared online, occurred after Rot-Weiss Essen took a 1-0 lead. Video footage shows a fan in the away section raising their right arm, with another individual attempting to push the arm down. The club emphasized that individuals behaving in such a manner "harm us all and are not welcome."

Rot-Weiss Essen announced its intention to "exhaust all available options," which include filing a criminal complaint, imposing a house and stadium ban, and potentially expelling the individual from the club. Their primary objective is to swiftly identify the fan responsible. The police in Saarbrücken were unavailable for comment when contacted.