Nicolas Anelka banned for five matches for anti-semitic gesture

West Bromwich Albion’s striker Nicolas Anelka gestures as he celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at The Boleyn Ground, Upton Park in east London on December 28, 2013.

West Brom striker Nicolas Anelkas has been handed a five-game ban and a £80,000 fine by the English Football Association after he was found guilty of performing a quenelle to celebrate his goal against West Ham last year.

‘Quenelle’ is a gesture popularized by French comedian Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala which is performed by pointing out one arm diagonally downwards palm down, while touching the shoulder with the opposite hand, and is often described as an ‘inverted Nazi salute’.

Even though, Anelka was backed by an FA disciplinary panel who insisted that the French player was not being intentionally anti-Semitic, his gesture was still found to be racist and abusive.

According to the report released by the FA, Anelka has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3(2) that includes ‘a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief’, and has been asked to complete a compulsory education course before deciding whether to appeal against his ban.

In an official statement released by West Brom, the club stated:

“West Bromwich Albion notes that both charges were proven against Nicolas Anelka at an FA hearing in relation to a gesture he made during the 3-3 draw at West Ham on December 28.

The Club cooperated fully with the FA’s investigation and has allowed due process to take place without prejudicing the outcome of the player’s hearing.

Both the player and Club are now awaiting the written reasons for the panel’s decision, upon the receipt of which the player will have seven days to decide whether to exercise his right of appeal.

West Bromwich Albion treats very seriously any such allegation which includes any reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion and/or belief. Upon both charges being proven, the Club has suspended Nicolas Anelka pending the conclusion of the FA’s disciplinary process and the Club’s own internal investigation.

The Club acknowledges that the FA panel ‘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’. However, the Club cannot ignore the offence that his actions have caused, particularly to the Jewish community, nor the potential damage to the Club’s reputation.

The Club will make no further comment until the FA’s disciplinary process and its own internal investigation have been completed.”

Earlier, French minister of sport Valerie Fourneyron had dismissed the gesture as shocking and disgusting saying: “There’s no place for anti-Semitism on the football field.”

Watch Anelka’s allegedly racist goal celebration:

http://youtu.be/bS4GOaJsN0Q