Anelka and West Brom set to pay for 'quenelle' salute
Sponsor abandons club because of alleged anti-Semitic gesture, and now the striker faces a lengthy ban after being charged by the FA over it
West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka faces a lengthy ban after being charged by the Football Association on Tuesday over his allegedly anti-Semitic gesture.
The 34-year-old French striker performed the "quenelle" salute, putting one arm across his chest and straightening the other, during West Brom's 3-3 draw at West Ham United in the Premier League last month.
"The FA has charged the West Bromwich Albion player Nicolas Anelka following an incident that occurred during the West Ham United versus West Bromwich Albion fixture at the Boleyn Ground on December 28, 2013," read an FA statement
The FA said that Anelka had made a gesture that was "abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper" and included "a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief". Anelka has until Thursday to respond to the charge and if found guilty he faces a minimum five-game suspension under new anti-discrimination measures introduced by the FA last year.
[Anelka] is a good personality. He needs a goal and he will work for me very well
An independent three-person commission will be appointed to deal with the case, which will be decided by a disciplinary hearing if Anelka contests the charge.