Nicolas Anelka faces minimum 5-match ban if found guilty of FA charge

Nicolas Anelka with his alleged anti-semitic gesture

Former France striker Nicolas Anelka has been charged by the FA for making an allegedly anti-semitic gesture during a goal celebration against West Ham United, last month. Anelka is facing a minimum ban of five-matches if found guilty of the FA charge.

Anelka had made a “quenelle” gesture, which has been described to be an inverted Nazi salute, after scoring against West Ham on 28th December. Anelka had said that he made the gesture in support of his friend, whom the French government had tried to ban, to prevent him from using the signs at his show.

The “quenelle” gesture has been devised by French comedian and Anelka’s friend Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, according to whom the gesture is an anti-establishment symbol.

People have been photographed while making the gesture outside synagogues and at Holocaust sites.

Th 34-year-old has until 18:00 GMT on 23rd January to respond to the FA regarding the charge.

The FA’s statement has described Anelka’s gesture which was “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper”, while also adding that it was “an aggravated breach in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief”. The minimum suspension that is liable if found guilty is 5 games, but the FA can add more number of games if they see fit.

“If Nicolas Anelka is found guilty of a racial offence then he deserves everything he gets,” said Alan Cleverley, secretary of the West Brom Supporters Club.

“You can’t go on doing that, especially on live television. It sounds as if he did it on purpose because he knew the match was being shown live in France.

“So if the book gets thrown at him, I’ve got no sympathy whatsoever for him.”

An expert was appointed by the FA to look into the gesture and determine the outcome of the investigation.

If Anelka is suspended following the charge, new West Brom manager Pepe Mel’s forward options will further be weakened, after loosing forward Shane Long to Hull City.

The striker has promised not to repeat his controversial celebration.

Zoopla, the sponsor of West Brom co-owned by Jewish businessman, Alex Chesterman has issued a statement that read: “Zoopla has been reviewing its position over the past few weeks in light of the actions of striker, Nicolas Anelka, during the match against West Ham… and has decided to focus its attention on other marketing activities after this season.”

Albion’s website had the following statement: “West Bromwich Albion has been fully aware since the sponsorship agreement came into force in June 2012 that its partnership with Zoopla could expire this summer and therefore has been planning accordingly.”