FIFA fines Germany for pro-Nazi chants at Czech World Cup qualifier

October 3 – FIFA has fined the German football association (DFB) 32,000 Swiss francs for the disgraceful pro-Nazi chanting by a hard core section of fans during last month’s World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic.

FIFA found the DFB guilty of “improper conduct” over  supporters shouting ‘Sieg Hail’ (‘Hail Victory’) and whistling during the pre-match minute’s silence in Prague to commemorate the death of two Czech officials.

The fans also verbally abused forward Timo Werner, who scored the first goal in a 2-1 win for ‘Die Mannschaft’.

Werner plays for RB Leipzig, suggesting the fans may have predominantly been followers of Dynamo Dresden, a club with a large far-right following located less than 200km from Prague.

FIFA also fined the Czech federation CHF5,000 for crowd disorder.

German manager Joachim Low branded  the chanting “extremely embarrassing” while after the game

 Germany’s players chose to snub their travelling supporters with Mats Hummels – who headed home the decider – branding the culprits “trouble-makers and hooligans”.

The chanting co-incided with the anniversary of the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939, which started World War II.