By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – Former French international striker Nicolas Anelka has pledged to stand his ground and not quit despite being charged by the English Football Association over his allegedly racist ‘quenelle’ gesture that continues to rumble on in both Britain and his homeland.
The 34-year-old West Bromwich Albion forward has been linked with a move to Italian side Lazio in the current transfer window that ends Friday but tweeted: “Why should I leave my club and England? I have done nothing wrong.”
The gesture, devised by French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala who insists it’s an anti-establishment symbol, is viewed by others as a Nazi-style anti-Semitic salute and was copied by Anelka after scoring a goal over Christmas.
If found guilty of an abusive sign, Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban. Anelka denies the charge and a hearing will be held next month. West Brom have asked him not to repeat the goal celebration but he will continue to remain available for selection until his hearing.
Meanwhile, Dieudonne, who argues his act covers a range of minority groups, says he is planning to stage a London press conference in support of Anelka as well as to perform his show, saying he will “prove to everybody” that he is “by no means anti-Jewish, or racist in any way”.
“Everybody will be able to make up their own mind,” he added. “Nicolas Anelka has my full backing – I am coming to Britain to support him. Both myself and Nicolas Anelka are Frenchmen of African descent. The quenelle is our way of expressing anger against the establishment, and especially the establishment which allowed slavery to flourish.”
Anelka’s case, while causing a storm of protest in both Britain and France, has split opinion – even among Jews. Roger Cukierman, head of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) and vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, has already suggested the player should not be too harshly treated.
And now, Eric Zemmour a prominent French Jewish writer, has added his voice to the debate.
“It is ridiculous to turn Dieudonne into someone who is nostalgic for the Third Reich,” he was quoted as saying. “France is first and foremost about freedom of speech.”
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