A former player from the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League has caused outrage after being filmed imitating a Nazi salute, allegedly whilst driving past a pro-Israel rally in California.

Brazilian midfielder Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel, whose most recent club was NWSL side Angel City 12 months ago, issued an apology on social media alongside her boyfriend Samim Haydari, but that apology video was subsequently deleted and their social media accounts deactivated.

The duo were filmed in their car in Beverly Hills with Ferrer Van Ginkel’s window wound down, opposite people waving an Israel flag who were reportedly holding a rally to call for the release of hostages in Gaza.

Ferrer Van Ginkel, 25, is currently unattached without a club but spent one season with Angel City and has also previously played for Spanish club Espanyol and Mexican top-flight side Tigres.

However, her football career was accelerated by her appearance on a reality television programme in the UK.

In 2021, she featured in the second series of BT Sport’s ‘Ultimate Goal’, a show which aimed to unearth future stars of the women’s game. The programme gave women based across Europe a chance to train as full-time women’s footballers to compete to try and impress scouts

She went on to sign for Angel City, in 2022, and the club were quick to condemn her behaviour on Tuesday night.

Angel City FC’s official account said in a statement on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter: “Stefany Ferrer Van Ginkel 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 Los Angeles-based club finished fifth in the regular NWSL campaign and reached the end-of-season play-offs, where they lost to OL Reign in the quarter-finals in October.