German team says fans gave Nazi salute

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AP) -- The German soccer team Kaiserslautern has reported a group of fans to police for allegedly giving Nazi salutes to an Israeli player.

The struggling Bundesliga club says the salutes toward striker Itay Shechter were made during practice Sunday, one day after a 4-0 loss at Mainz dropped Kaiserslautern to next to last.

Kaiserslautern says fewer than 10 people took part, and they belong to a group of hooligans that has been banned from games for years.

The club has asked police to investigate and possibly file charges and has urged fans to identify the perpetrators. The team adds says in a statement it "distances itself expressly from any form of racism, discrimination or anti-Semiticism."

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