A female pro soccer player reportedly gave the traditional ‘seig heil’ gesture toward a group of protestors
Former United States Women’s Soccer League player Steffany Ferrer Van Ginkel reportedly flashed a nazi salute from a moving vehicle, directed at a group of pro-Israel protestors in California.
The incident was caught on video and (naturally) began making the rounds quickly on social media. It was placed on a page on X called StopAntisemitism, with the tagline: “Recognize them? DM us.”
It didn’t take long before the offender was identified as 25-year-old soccer player Steffany Ferrer Van Ginkel, a former member of the USWSL’s Angel City FC. The Brazilian native played for the team in 2022 but was released following the season.
The driver of the car – as later noted by The New York Post – was fellow soccer star Samim Haydari, a player for United City FC and reportedly the boyfriend of Van Ginkel.
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“Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel does not play for Angel City Football Club, nor has she been affiliated with the club since November 2022. We condemn her recent actions and statements,” Angel City FC said in a statement on Tuesday.
Following the incident, the two soccer stars issued a joint apology via video, saying that they were being reckless and childish.
“I know we have approached the situation with hate and made it worse with our actions,” Haydari said. “We acted childish … All we can do is become better [and] learn a lesson from this. We cannot change the past.”
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