Anelka's Quenelle

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25827506
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25815670

The FA charge him for making the gesture, and zoopla withdraw the club's sponsorship, allegedly for the same reason. some jewish commentators interviewed tonight felt it would be right to treat anti semitic behavior the same as racist gestures would be.

fair point? or mountain being made of molehill?

[ludwig]

It's reminiscent of the furore over Paulo Di Canio's 'Roman' salute.

As a rule of thumb, people should probably avoid gestures involving a single outstretched arm, unless they're impersonating a Dalek.

[Ken4155]

Then the 'Whovians' would be up in arms (pardon the pun).

[Ken4155]

Ellipsis; ok, you post the full quote which includes, "Dieudonne has been involved with anti-racist left wing activists as well as far right activists." That, for me is the confusing issue. As i have stated earlier in this thread, i am not particularly fond of Anelka and i am not sticking up for him. As you say, the comedian's shows are being banned in France. Anelka says his gesture is in support of the comedian, who is his friend. So the FA, in their supposedly 34 page (!!) rap sheet, have to prove that his gesture was not in support of his friend and was meant to upset a certain group of people. Mind readers they are not.

[Ken4155]

This gesture has yet to be proven to be racist and, i'll bet, was not on the FA's list of offensive gestures (if they have one) prior to the Anelka episode. Let's not forget that other footballers have made the same gesture - though one says he was tricked into doing so.

[Ellipsis]

Ken, you are hugely overcomplicating the issue. No matter why he did it, the gesture indicates ramming something up a Jew's backside. People were offended. That's it.

[Gromit]

Elipse/Ken.

The quenelle gesture was used by another french footballer in France, 11 months earlier. It was a cup match live on television so is likely to have been watched by far more french people than a WBA v WHU tie. There was no reaction to the gesture. No one commented on it. The French FA made no reference to it. They did not dicipline the player. The 'quenelle' was printed on the front of one sports newspaper, again without comment. The player has since said the questure was not meant to be racist or attack any religion.

// Montpellier defender Mathieu Deplagne, 22, who was the first footballer to display the ‘quenelle’ goal celebration back in January 2013 (see above), has come out in defence of West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka on Sunday.

Noticeably, after Deplagne pulled the goal celebration in French League Cup at the start of the year, not only was no issue largely ignored but, moreover, his behaviour was splashed on the front page of a newspaper without any significant backlash.

Speaking to BFMTV, Deplagne categorically denied that the ’quenelle’ goal celebration is racist and/or anti-Semitic, while the defender claimed that a political storm is being whipped up by mischievous people in politics and the media.

Deplagne told BFMTV:

It’s simple, it was a tribute to comedian Dieudonné. I went to see his show and I promised him that I will make a little dedication when I will score a goal. There is no political or anti-Semitic connotation as I could see. This is really a tribute the comedian.

I’d gladly do it again. For me, there really is no racist connotation as I could hear. It is a gesture that has no relation to anti-Semitism. The media and politicians are trying to hurt him and I find this a damaging process.

It is a gimmick. Just that.

In the locker room we often talk about it because many players also like the comedian. We laugh more than anything else, and we laughed after my gesture too. But I had no negative message. //

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/the-first-french-footballer-who-quenelle-goal-celebration-back-in-january-2013-defends-nicolas-anelka/

[sandyRoe]

Is Anelka being disingenuous? With that heavy beard and shaven head he has the look of an Islamic trouble maker about him.

[FredPuli43]

There is such a thing as recklessness. A person might not intend to cause offence , that not being the reason for what they do, but it may be patently obvious that offence will be caused. At best, Anelka, a French man familiar with French culture, was being reckless.

[anotheoldgit]

/// No one was offended excepted people who wanted to be offended. ///

That has got to be the quote of all quotes.

/// There is a racist element at work here. Anelka is muslim and black which is why a witch hunt has been initiated. ///

Can one imagine something similar being used in defence of a white footballer who had been accused of racism?

As regards the gesture if Anelka had any sense he would have just said he was pointing to his club's badge on the arm of his shirt.

But all this type of thing is getting all rather silly, perhaps they should have charged Mark Duggan's aunt for using the Black Power Salute, that was more offensive.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/08/article-2536197-1A812EF400000578-185_634x499.jpg

[Ken4155]

Ellipsis; if you were to indicate ramming something up someone's back passage, would it honestly look anything like the gesture Anelka made? Hate to have you on my Charade's team.

[Ellipsis]

It's not my gesture, Ken, it's Dieudonne's. That said, I am not very good at charades anyway. ;)

[Gromit]

// Anelka if he had any sense he would have just said he was pointing to his club's badge on the arm of his shirt. //

Why lie? telling the truth that it was in support of the comedian should suffice.

// they should have charged Mark Duggan's aunt for using the Black Power Salute, that was more offensive. //

Neither gesture is illegal in this country. And the Quenelle has been used on a football field before without any penalty.

[mushroom25]

it was reported on midlands today that jack wolfskin and holler watches, currently sponsors of WBA, are said to be "considering their position" in respect of continued support for the club. whilst FCL, their logistics suppler and the University of Wolverhampton are considering what they will be doing come the end of the season.

[ludwig]

I don't know what the 'quenelle all the fuss is about.

[jake-the-peg]

You'd know what the fuss was about if he'd given a nazi salute wouldn't you Ludwig?

Well some people are saying this is pretty much the same thing

Don't know whether or not it is myself

[Ken4155]

mushroom25; the cynic in me begs the question, what would all these sponsors do were Albion in the top 4 or 5 of the Premier and pushing for a place in Europe next season, instead of sitting just 4 points above the relegation zone?

[ludwig]

Calm down jake, it was only a joke. I just thought I'd be the first to get that pun in before anyone else said it.