© EuroFootball.com
The joy of victory after scoring two goals against "West Ham United" could be bitter for "West Bromwich" forward Nicolas Anelka. The 34-year-old Frenchman is accused of anti-Semitism for celebrating a goal by displaying a gesture known in France as "quenelle".
This gesture has anti-Semitic connotations, described as an inverted Nazi salute. One hand is stretched out and the other hand is pressed against the shoulder. This gesture was popularized by French comedian Dieudonne M' bala M' bala.
True, he himself defended that his gesture is not directed against Jews.
N. Anelka justified that he celebrated the goals in honor of his friend D. M' bala M' bala in exactly this way.
"It was just a simple dedication to my friend," - N. Anelka insisted.
It is claimed that Dieudonne uses this gesture during his performances not out of bad intentions and does not link it to hostility towards Jews. N. Anelka, who professes Islam, had been photographed together with the comedian doing the "quenelle" gesture.
N. Anelka's gesture received a lot of criticism. The French Minister of Sport was outraged by such behavior of a compatriot: "It was a shocking provocation, simply disgraceful. There is no place for anti-Semitism in football."
