Why do they call Roman Zozulya “Nazi”? The origin of his confrontation with the fans of Rayo Vallecano

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  • The Rayista fans put down their signing in the winter market of 16/17
  • A number of images with neo-Nazi symbols precipitated the anger of the stands
Zozulya, in a recreation of Albacete in its place. Photograph: Getty

For the first time in the historical past of LaLiga, a match was suspended for insults from the stands to a participant. It was for those who the Vallecas Stadium gave Roman Zozulya, participant of Albacete, rival of Rayo Vallecano on the 20th day of Second. The Madrid stand, throughout the first half of the recreation, made quite a few chants wherein the Ukrainian footballer was labeled “Nazi”.

All the things goes again to the winter switch market of the 16/17 season. Rayo Vallecano tied the cession of the striker, owned by Betis, however the membership's social mass, of marked left-wing custom, expressed his rejection accusing Zozulya of Nazi affiliation. The Bukaneros, the group with the biggest impression of the entity, pressured Rayo with protests and demonstrations, and even had tense clashes with the participant himself in the rayista services.

After just a few days of stress wherein the participant denied being a neo-Nazi and acknowledged his standing as a Ukrainian nationalist, Rayo Vallecano resigned his signing, which left Zozulya 5 months inactive, with no risk of having a card once more with Betis. After these episodes, he signed for Albacete in the 17/18 course.

However what’s recriminated to Zozulya? Numerous photos disseminated by way of social networks put the ahead underneath the highlight. As in the one which seems subsequent to a basketball marker that prays 14-88. The 14 is a reference quantity in neo-Nazi circles for being that quantity of phrases utilized by the American supremacist David Lane in the phrase “We should guarantee the existence of our individuals and a future for white youngsters.” The 88 refers to the initials of the motto 'Heil Hitler', being H the eighth letter of the alphabet.

One other snapshot has been used in opposition to the footballer, which he himself uploaded on his Twitter profile joking about his resemblance to Stepan Bandera, a Ukrainian independence hero of the first half of the 20th century and accused of Nazi collaboration in World Struggle II and massacres Towards Poles and Jews.

A 3rd picture can be the topic of a lot controversy. That is that of the Ukrainian, sporting a rifle, with a shirt of the Pravy Sektor group, an ultra-right-wing political get together and a really lively paramilitary group in the Donbass battle that Ukraine maintained with Russia in 2014 and wherein Zozulya has been very lively.

“I’ve achieved an vital activity in Ukraine collaborating with the military to guard my nation, along with serving to youngsters and the most deprived,” Zozulya acknowledged in a letter written to the Vallecano Ray followers. A letter that didn’t get a optimistic response from the stands. The acts of this Sunday have been enough proof.