A Social Media storm erupted after it emerged that a Professional Footballer did not know what ‘Fawlty Towers’ was. The incident happened when the Crystal Palace goalkeeper inadvertently mocked Basil Fawlty, the hapless hero of the cult TV series, Fawlty Towers.

The matter has been referred to the Football Association disciplinary panel.

On-lookers assumed that the player was simply re-enacting key scenes from the iconic ‘Don’t Mention The War Episode’. Long considered the high point of the 12 episode series the joke revolves around Basil making repeated Nazi salutes, whilst saying “Don’t mention the war’. 

Social Media appeared to show the player mocking Basil Fawlty. The footballer had raised his right arm in a salute, whilst holding his fingers under his nose and walking in a funny manner. Fans of the series decided to be outraged. 

The FA Panel accepted the players contention that he’d no knowledge of Fawlty Towers, Basil Fawlty, or John Cleese. Rather than mocking Basil, the player was trying to summon Manuel, in order to refresh his Tequila Slammer. 

Ian Napton, from the Flowery Twats Education and Preservation Trust  explained, “It’s simply appalling that in this day and age, in Britain, a middle-aged man is so unaware of his TV Comedy history. So this doesn’t happen again, we are campaigning for the TV Channels, Dave and Gold to be shown 24/7 in every school in the country.”

The player has agreed to go on a comedy awareness programme and to do voluntary work with the National Treasure Trust. 

The Origin of the ‘Footballer unaware of Fawlty Towers’ Story

The Crystal Palace Goalkeeper was photographed whilst appearing to make a Nazi salute and holding his fingers under his nose. 

We were struck by the absurdity of his defence and the comments in the FA’s statement as to why no further action would be taken. The last line is the killer, in this BBC reporting of the incident; https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/WayneHennessey

This story is not meant to cast aspersions on Fawlty Towers, which is comedy gold. Rather it came about because we found it unbelievable that a 32 year old man would not have seen the ‘Don’t mention the war’ episode, making no knowledge of a Nazi salute, unlikely.