Home Football Anelka in hot water over alleged gesture.

Anelka in hot water over alleged gesture.

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West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka has provoked controversy after apparently celebrating both of his goals by making an anti semitic gesture. 

The French striker scored twice in West Brom’s 3-3 draw away at West Ham United today, and apparently seemed to use the ‘ Quenelle Salute ‘ after both of his goals in the pulsating draw at Upton Park, in the Premier League fixture. 

The salute in question is used by controversial French comedian  Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, but has also been described as an inverted Nazi salute. 

The quenelle has stoked serious controversy in France since first being used by anti-establishment DieudonnĂ© M’Bala M’Bala in 2005.  

Roger Cukierman, head of the CRIF umbrella group of Jewish organizations, described it as “the Nazi salute in reverse” in a complaint made to French President Francois Hollande last week.

However, DieudonnĂ© insists the quenelle is an anti-Zionist statement rather than an anti-Semitic one and has threatened to sue prominent Jewish critics for linking his gesture to facist Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. 

Anelka, who has played for Six Premier League clubs during his career, defended his actions, stating that it was NOT an anti semitic salute against the Jewish religion, in what is another controversial move by ‘ Le Sulk ‘. 

The quenelle is becoming the subject of a sick viral craze across the Channel, with youths trying to perform the sign in the most offensive place possible before uploading pictures and videos to social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook, as a religious apartied sweeps the French nation, after some controversial moments made by far right groups.           

Anelka is not the first footballers to imitate DieudonnĂ©’s actions, with Montpellier’s Mathieu Deplagne also celebrating a goal in this manner in the French League Cup last January.   

West Bromwich Albion interim boss Keith Downing defended Anelka’s actions in the draw…. stating. 

“It has got nothing to do what is being said. It is absolute rubbish,” Downing said. “It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well.”

Anelka’s celebration, after he scored to make it 1-1, was criticised by some Twitter users. The Press Association reports that the Football Association is looking into the matter.

Downing said Anelka was “totally surprised” by the furore.

On Friday the French government announced it was studying legal ways to ban shows by Dieudonne.

Jewish groups had complained to President Francois Hollande about Dieudonne’s trademark gesture, which they described as a “Nazi salute in reverse”. They linked it to increasing anti-Semitic remarks and acts in France.

Anelka himself is a follower of Islam, and may face a ban if foung guilty of the action. 
 
By Ben Reardon 
@BenReardon1

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