March 17 – Former French international striker Nicolas Anelka faces an uncertain future following the latest development concerning his infamous ‘quenelle’ gesture that landed him with a five-match ban and a hefty fine from the English Football Association.
Anelka was sacked late last week by his current club West Bromwich Albion for “gross misconduct” after announcing via social media that he was unilaterally terminating his playing contract, which had three and half months to run.
Anelka wrote he was leaving with “immediate effect” after failing to reconcile differences with the club over the alleged inverted Nazi salute he made when celebrating a goal in late December.
“Following discussions between the club and me, proposals have been made that I rejoined the group under certain conditions that I cannot accept,” he wrote. “Wishing to keep my integrity, so I decided to free myself and to terminate the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion until 2014, and now.”
Anelka had already been suspended by Albion on full pay in the wake of the FA’s verdict pending a separate club investigation but the club reacted to his move by branding it as “highly unprofessional” and have clearly run out of patience with the 35-year-old.
“The club considers the conduct of Nicolas Anelka on December 28, coupled with his purported termination on social media, to be gross misconduct,” a West Brom statement said.
It added that Anelka had failed to apologise for “the impact and consequences of his [quenelle] gesture” or accept a substantial fine, which would have led to his suspension being lifted.
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