The inverted Nazi or ‘quenelle’ salute has strong connotations with Antisemitism: Photo – The Telegraph
French striker for West Bromwich Albion, Nicolas Anelka, has been banned for five games and received a heavy fine for an offensive gesture in the league.
The Football Association has confirmed that West Bromwich Albion forward Nicolas Anelka has been fined $133, 400 and banned for five matches after he made a supposed anti-Semitic gesture during a match in December.
The French striker made a ‘quenelle’ after scoring a goal against West Ham on December 28th, 2013. West Bromwich Albion has told the forward to remain away from the club pending an internal inquiry.
Despite being cleared of any anti-Semitic intent the 34 year old has been has also been ordered to complete a compulsory education course. The FA released a statement saying:
“An Independent Regulatory Commission has found an aggravated breach of FA Rule E3 against Nicolas Anelka proven and has issued a five-match suspension and a fine of 80,000 pound [sterling], pending appeal,”
The commission confirmed that the FA had proven Anelka’s behaviour was “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper” and “included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief”.
But it further added: “We did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle.”
The punishment will be suspended until the outcome of any appeal or if Anelka decides not to appeal the FA’s decision. His club has suspended him from matches and even training until all pathways are exhausted.
Anelka has been very vocal on both Facebook and Twitter in plead with the FA to drop the charges and defend his reputation denying he was racist or anti-Semitic. He claimed that the gesture was not meant to cause offence and was in fact a tribute to French comedian friend Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala, who invented the gesture and has long been accused of being an anti-Semite.
A statement issued by Anelka’s legal advisers read: “Nicolas Anelka is pleased that the FA regulatory commission has found him not to be an anti-Semite and that he did not intend to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle gesture…He is now waiting to receive the commission’s full reasons for their decision before considering whether or not to appeal.”
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