A former U.S. National Women’s Soccer League player was allegedly seen making a Nazi salute and shouting “Heil Hitler” at a group of pro-Israel supporters.
Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel, who previously played soccer for the Angel City Football Club based out of Los Angeles, was captured on video making the Nazi salute, otherwise known as the “Sieg Heil” salute, according to a video posted by the non-profit group StopAntisemitism.
Van Ginkel had reportedly played with the team during its inaugural season in 2022 and left the team at the end of the season after her contract was not renewed, according to KTLA.
“Beverly Hills, CA – car driving by a pro Israel rally yesterday stopped to shout ‘Heil Hitler” then proceeded to throw up a Nazi salute (caught on camera),” StopAntisemitism wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pro-Israeli protesters could be heard yelling, “Shame on you!” as Van Ginkel threw up the “Sieg Heil” salute from the passenger seat, while a man was seen in the driver’s seat. It is reportedly unclear what happened before the filming of the video.
StopAntisemitism revealed in another post that the couple in the car had been identified as Van Ginkel and Samim Haydari, a professional men’s soccer player.
Van Ginkel’s former team issued a statement on X, condemning “her recent actions and statements.”
Angel City FC wrote, that she “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,” the soccer team added.
Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel (stefvangi21) does not play for Angel City Football Club, nor has she been affiliated with the club since November 2022.
— Angel City FC (@weareangelcity) November 7, 2023
We condemn her recent actions and statements.
Van Ginkel and Haydari posted a video to social media in which they issued an apology, according to the outlet.
“I know we have approached the situation with hate and made it worse with our actions,” Haydari said in the video, while Van Ginkel did not speak. “We acted childish…. All we can do is become better [and] learn a lesson from this. We cannot change the past.”