Ex-Greek international Georgos Katidis may be headed to play for FF Jaro in Jakobstad, but not without controversy. In March 2013, after scoring a goal while playing for AEK Athens, Katidis raised his right arm in what appeared to be a Nazi salute.
The incident was widely criticised but Katidis, who was 20 years old at the time, said he was not a fascist and didn't know what the salute meant.
Katidis' salute resulted in Greece's national team banning Katidis for life, and his club AEK Athens suspended him for the rest of the season. He had played for several junior national teams up to that point, and was the captain of the under-21 team which was runner-up in the 2012 European Championship.
Since the incident Katidis has represented Aris, Novara, Veria, Levadiakos and Panegialkos.
Second chance
FF Jaro president Harald Finne wrote that the club was aware of the Nazi salute incident, but that Jaro want to offer Katidis another chance.
"FF Jaro is aware of the commotion caused in Greece by Katidis' inappropriate style of celebration. Jaro condemns the behaviour and wants to remind [people] that one of the core values of the club is respect for others," Finne wrote on the club's website.
"Another of FF Jaro's core values is to support people who've made a mistake, and against that backdrop, Jaro wants to give this talent a chance, and at the same time Katidis can raise the technical level of Jaro and bring the club back into the league," Finne stated.
"Jaro has also helped problem youths and players with good results. FF Jaro has the environment and needed expertise," Finne wrote on the team website.
Katidis is scheduled to arrive in Jakobstad on Friday and if he meets expectations a contract will likely be signed. Both the club and Katidis have reportedly already reached agreement on contract negotiations.
