Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku – who is currently on-loan at Everton – says banning West Bromwich Albion’s Nicolas Anelka for ‘quenelle’ gesture is wrong.
The Frenchman received a minimum of five matches banned for performing the sign after scoring against West Ham United in December – an action that is considered to be anti-Semitic.
Anelka says that he was simply showing support to French comedian and inventor of the gesture Dieudonne M’bala M’bala – a man who has been taken to court seven times for incitement against Jewish people.
Yet Lukaku has spoken up in defence of the 34-year-old and says that the FA are making too big a deal about it.
“I think he shouldn’t be banned for that [quenelle]. He was just like to support a stand-up comedian in France. We don’t have to make such a big deal about it,” the 20-year-old told the Toffees website, as shown here by the Sun.
“He’s an adult. I hope he doesn’t get suspended because he’s a player people want to see play on the pitch.”
After putting the video on their official website, the Merseyside club took it down shortly afterwards, with football journalist Rob Harris pointing out their blunder.
“Lukaku is speaking on Everton’s own website backing Anelka for performing a gesture seen by some to be anti-Semitic” said Rob Harris on Twitter
Written by Steve Milne
