A man dressed in military camouflage told police he “could not remember” whether he had made a gesture police said was a Nazi salute at a very intense football grand final because he had been drinking too much, a court was told. .
Nikola Marko Gasparovic, Dominik Sieben and Marijan Lisica separately attended the Australian Cup final between Sydney United 58 and Macarthur on 1 October 2022.
All of the men are of Croatian origin and are enthusiastic supporters of Sydney United.
The three men were separately captured performing an alleged “Hitler salute” on CCTV and on a Channel 10 broadcast of the game.
The men are fighting one charge each of knowingly displaying at a public event a Nazi symbol without reasonable excuse in a hearing before Magistrate Joy Boulos that entered its second day on Tuesday.
Marijan Lisica (pictured) has appeared in court accused of giving a Nazi salute at the Australian Cup final in Sydney in October 2022.
The 45-year-old man (pictured outside court) was captured allegedly carrying out the disgraceful act in footage taken by Channel 10.
Footage of an interview with Mr Lisica months after the alleged incident was played at Parramatta Local Court.
The 45-year-old told Detective Sergeant Aaron Turner that he dressed in military camouflage and wore a rosary at the game in “honor of the people who died in the homeland in the war in the 1990s.”
The court was told that Lisica had also brought a large homemade banner that read “Za Dom,” which translates to “for the homeland.”
When asked if he did a “Nazi salute” at the game, Lisica said he “couldn’t even remember it” after consuming 10 beers before and during the game.
“I had a few drinks… I was on top of the stadium sitting with my huge flag,” he said in the footage.
He told Sergeant Turner that he sat at the top of the stadium for “30-40 minutes” looking at the crowd and became “emotional.”
“Suddenly they were calling us fascists…they were raising their hands everywhere and labeling us,” he said.
When asked what his thought process would be if it were discovered that he had given a Nazi salute, Lisica said that “people interpret things in their own way.”
But he says it was an appreciation for his Croatian people that “goes back centuries.”
“I don’t understand why everyone always says that if we raise our hand it’s a Nazi salute,” he said.
Dominik Sieben (pictured outside court) told police he was drinking a beer and trying to cheer on his team when he allegedly performed the salute.
Sieben was filmed by Channel 10 allegedly performing the salute (pictured) while supporting Sydney United 58 in the final.
“I don’t think it’s Nazism. If they did what they did, it was for Croatia.”
Images reproduced on the field on Monday It showed Mr Sieben telling police he was upset that the media had “twisted” a photo of him to make it appear to be showing the Nazi salute.
The 25-year-old, who described himself as a cameraman, told police he had a “long story” for them.
“Long story short, I went to lawyers… it was disgusting, the whole thing, everything I was accused of,” Mr. Sieben told police.
He told police he had a beer in one hand and was trying to cheer on his team with his other arm.
“Everyone was singing… the media took my picture and completely twisted it and made me look like someone I’m not,” she said.
“It had nothing to do with Hitler’s rubbish… none of that rubbish… was exaggerated to such an extent.”
Footage taken from the Channel 10 broadcast and CCTV was played on court, showing Mr Sieben raising his right hand in the air on two occasions over a period of four to five seconds.
Mr Gasparovic’s interview, which was broadcast in court on Monday afternoon, showed him telling police “nothing was wrong” as he raised his hand.
He told Sergeant Turner that he had “nothing against” the Jewish people.
Nikola Marko Gasparovic (pictured outside court) told police there was “nothing wrong” with him raising his hand during the game, the court heard.
Gasparovic said he was “proud” to be Croatian and left the football match happy, but was surprised when he saw a photo of him in the media the next day.
Kristy Campion, senior lecturer in terrorism studies at Charles Sturt University, told the court that a right palm salute was not automatically linked to Nazism.
Dr Campion told the court that history showed that Croatians did not begin using the salute until after the Second World War and their collaboration with Germany.
The three men are unknown to each other, and the court had previously said they had been charged under “novel” New South Wales laws.
Police prosecutor Jarrod Imlay told the court Lisica was wearing military camouflage, while Gasparovic was carrying a World War Two-era Nazi flag.
Meanwhile, Mr Sieben was wearing a red and white T-shirt and had the Croatian flag hanging like a cape around his neck.
Australian Cup Final – Sydney United 58 FC v Macarthur FC
The three men were interviewed before being charged with knowingly displaying at a public event a Nazi symbol without a reasonable excuse.
It is the first time that a person has been accused of the crime.
Anyone found guilty of the crime of displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and/or a fine of $11,000.
The key issue at the hearing will be whether the salute constitutes a Nazi symbol, since it is not defined in the law.
“It will be for Your Honor to determine beyond reasonable doubt whether the defendant’s actions are a Nazi symbol,” Mr Imlay said.
Ms. Boulos will have to determine whether the elements of the accusation have been satisfied with a reasonable doubt and whether the men “knowingly” behaved in a particular manner.
The hearing continues.