ATHENS -- Greece junior international Giorgos Katidis has been given a life ban from playing in the country for a Nazi salute in a match Saturday, the Greek football association EPO said Sunday.

The AEK Athens player used the salute while celebrating the winning goal in a 2-1 victory six minutes from the end of the game against Veria.

EPO said in a statement the player's gesture was "a deep insult to all victims of Nazi brutality."

The 20-year-old midfielder later apologized but said he was unaware of the significance of the gesture.

Katidis said he trying to devote the goal to a teammate sitting in the stands and was pointing to him and trying to get spectators to stand up.

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