Real Madrid Fan Banned After Nazi Salute Offers Bizarre Defence: 'I Thought Nazi Was a Gin Brand'
A Real Madrid supporter caught on camera performing a Nazi salute during the Bernabéu's Champions League clash with Benfica has been expelled — and his defence is something else.
A Real Madrid fan has been expelled from the Santiago Bernabéu after TV cameras caught him repeatedly performing a Nazi salute during the Champions League match against Benfica — and his subsequent attempt to explain himself has to be seen to be believed.
What Actually Happened
Broadcast footage from the match captured a supporter in the Animación stand — Real Madrid’s dedicated ultras section in the south end — making the gesture on multiple occasions. The clip spread rapidly across social media, and the club moved quickly, announcing an immediate expulsion procedure against the member identified in the footage.
So far, so straightforward. Then the bloke in question decided to post a video response.
The Defence That Has to Be Heard to Be Believed
The fan, who identified himself as Antonio Gálvez, recorded a self-filmed video to offer his side of the story. It is, to put it mildly, a lot.
His key arguments, if you can call them that:
- He claims the gesture was entirely accidental, explaining that he makes all sorts of random movements at football matches and this one just happened to look how it looked
- He insists his conscience is clear and that being labelled a Nazi is wildly unfair
- He acknowledged he’d likely be expelled anyway, describing himself as “the village idiot” who’ll end up carrying the can
But it’s what came next that’s really doing the rounds. Antonio went on to list what he clearly considers cast-iron proof that he can’t possibly hold far-right views:
- He says he has two adopted Black children
- He says he was married by a gay man — by choice, he emphasises
- He regularly dresses in women’s clothing, owns six traditional gitana dresses, and is apparently a massive fan of El Rocío, the Andalusian pilgrimage festival
- He describes himself as someone who loves spending time with his gay mates
And then, the crowning moment: Antonio claimed that until this whole saga blew up, he genuinely thought “Nazi” was a brand of gin. He said he’d been planning to bring a couple of bottles to El Rocío that very weekend.
Real Madrid’s Position
The club haven’t messed about here. They confirmed the expulsion procedure was initiated immediately upon identifying the member, which is the correct call regardless of whatever Antonio’s explanation turns out to be. The gesture was caught clearly on camera, broadcast to millions, and the Bernabéu — or any football ground — is not the place for it, full stop.
The Bigger Picture
Look, Spanish football has had a long and uncomfortable relationship with racist and far-right behaviour in the stands, and clubs and authorities have rightly faced pressure to come down harder on incidents like this. Real Madrid acting swiftly is the minimum you’d expect.
As for Antonio Gálvez — whatever the truth of his intentions, the defence he’s put forward is one of the more surreal things you’ll see emerge from a football controversy this season. Whether it’s genuine bewilderment or something else entirely, the images spoke for themselves, and the club made the right call.