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Post by Macmoish on Dec 28, 2013 19:37:21 GMT
West Bromwich Albion's French International, Nicholas Anelka accused of making Anti-Semitic Salute - "The Quenelle" I read a couple of pieces recently about the growing popularity of this salute. The question is did Anelka just do it today at West Ham for whatever reason...or does he always. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DySIqwywZiY - BBC FA investigates Anelka celebration 28 December 2013 Updated 19:24 GMT France's sports minister has accused Nicolas Anelka of a "disgusting anti-Semitic" goal celebration during West Brom's 3-3 draw at West Ham. Anelka, 34, made the 'quenelle' - described as an inverted Nazi salute. The French government is trying to ban comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala's shows over his use of the gesture. Albion said it was not an anti-Semitic act, but Sport Minister Valerie Fourneyron criticised Anelka, who is also being investigated by the FA. Fourneyron wrote (external): "Anelka's gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting. There's no place for anti-Semitism on the football field." But Anelka defended his action, saying: (external) "This gesture was a special dedication to my friend Dieudonne." Albion caretaker manager Keith Downing said Anelka was "totally surprised" by the furore, despite the French government announcing on Friday that it was studying legal options to ban performances by Dieudonne. "It has got nothing to do with what is being said," Downing said. "It is absolute rubbish." Jewish groups had complained to French president Francois Hollande about Dieudonne's trademark gesture, which they described as a "Nazi salute in reverse". They linked it to increasing anti-Semitic remarks and acts in France. In return Dieudonne has threatened to sue the groups for calling it a Nazi salute. He calls it "la quenelle" - a word for a fish dumpling - and says it stands for his anti-Zionist and anti-establishment views, rather than anti-Semitism. Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out said it was in contact with partners in England and France over the Anelka incident and offered support to the Football Association in its inquiries. Former France international Anelka scored his first two goals for the club in Saturday's draw with the Hammers. He had not played since the 4-1 defeat by former club Liverpool on 26 October. m.bbc.com/sport/football/25537686 |
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 28, 2013 19:39:34 GMT
This piece was a few days ago Times of Israel French use Nazi-like salute with impunityPresident Hollande indicates his government will do more to curb online displays of the anti-Semitic ‘quenelle’BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ December 25, 2013, 5:48 am 24 French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala performing the quenelle in 2008 (photo credit: YouTube screenshot)NEWSROOM Email the NewsroomFacebookTwitter RELATED TOPICS DIEUDONNEANTI-SEMITISM IN FRANCEQUENELLEMORE ON THIS STORY ‘French Jewish Defense League stages attacks near Lyon’Modern ‘Nazi salute’ sweeping EuropeFrench soldiers face disciplinary action for anti-Semitic photoFrench Jews too afraid to put kids in public schoolIsrael prepares plan to attract more French immigrantsFrench soccer player uses Nazi-like ‘quenelle’ salute to celebrate goal PARIS (JTA) — To outsiders, they seem like ordinary men striking macho poses for the camera. But there is a dark side to the photos that are appearing with growing frequency in the French media. The men — and less frequently women — are performing the “quenelle,” a gesture vaguely similar to the Nazi salute that some believe was invented solely to express hatred of Jews without inviting prosecution. In France, displaying Nazi symbols is illegal if done to cause offense. But the quenelle, in which one places the left palm across the right shoulder, may not be prosecutable. It is just similar enough to the Nazi salute to make its meaning clear, but not so similar that the gesturer could be subject to criminal charges. “The quenelle is too vague to be treated like a Nazi salute,” Anne-Sophie Laguens, a former secretary of the conference of lawyers of the Paris bar association, wrote in a legal analysis published in September in the Le Nouvel Observateur weekly. Until recently, most Frenchmen knew the word quenelle to mean a sort of dumpling or cookie. But after the comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala appropriated the word to refer to a salute of his own invention, the gesture has taken on anti-Semitic overtones. Last week, the Swiss municipality of Carouge near Geneva fired two volunteer firefighters over online photos in which they performed the quenelle. In September, two French soldiers were disciplined for performing it in front of a Paris synagogue and then posting the image online. Dieudonne, a professed anti-Semite, Hamas supporter and Holocaust denier, was convicted last month for a seventh time of incitement against Jews and slapped with a $36,000 fine. Like the Nazi salute, the quenelle is seen as a variant of the Roman salute and, considering its inventor’s penchant for defiance of France’s anti-Nazi laws, is understood to challenge the prohibition on performing the Nazi salute. A young man displays the quenelle in front of the main gate of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp (photo credit: YouTube screenshot) “It’s an inverted Nazi salute,” Roger Cukierman, president of the CRIF Jewish umbrella group, told the French media recently. The quenelle is of a piece with Dieudonne’s coining of the term “shoananas,” a mashup of the Hebrew word for Holocaust and the French word for pineapple that is seen as a safe way to suggest the Holocaust is a myth while not running afoul of French laws prohibiting Holocaust denial. Dieudonne fans have taken to performing the quenelle next to pineapples. The quenelle’s popularity has soared in France. Hundreds of quenelle photos can be found in anti-Semitic forums and on Facebook, with quenelles performed at Jewish sites and at Nazi concentration camps especially popular. But while civil servants may face disciplinary action over the quenelle, civilians may perform it with impunity. Laguens’ analysis of the legal implications of the quenelle came days after a young man sitting in the audience of a prime-time television show performed it while smiling for the camera. A Facebook user identified as Leo Romano planned a “quenelle party” for Dec. 22 in eastern France, but on Tuesday he said he had been summoned to the office of France’s domestic intelligence agency. “It’s an anti-establishment gesture, not a racist or anti-Semitic one, as the media would have you believe to discredit us,” he wrote on his Facebook page. Outside France, the quenelle is virtually unknown. This has allowed the users of anti-Semitic Internet forums to relish the irony of photographs of French tourists performing the quenelle while posing with an oblivious Israeli soldier and at the Western Wall. But in France, the gesture is being treated with increasing seriousness by government officials. In a statement Monday to supporters of the CRIF, President Francois Hollande suggested his government would move to undermine the sense of legal impunity now enjoyed by those who perform the quenelle. “We will act, with the government led by [Prime Minister] Jean-Marc Ayrault, to shake the tranquility which, under the cover of anonymity, facilitates shameful actions online,” Hollande said. “But also we will fight against the sarcasm of those who purport to be humorists but are actually professional anti-Semites.” Among French Jews, there is considerable support for stretching France’s restrictive laws on incitement to include the quenelle and the shoananas. But as the fight against anti-Semitism intensifies in France, so does criticism that it places too many restrictions on freedom of expression. Many were outraged by a French court ruling in January that forced Twitter to hand over details about users who posted anti-Semitic messages. Others sounded the alarm when a court last month ordered the censoring of five books containing anti-Semitic texts, including one first published 122 years ago and reproduced many times. “They aspire to spread their hate with total impunity while intimidating those who seek to apply the law,” Jonathan Hayoun, the president of the Union for French Students who led the fight against Twitter, wrote on the French edition of the Huffington Post this month, referring to Dieudonne and his associate, Alain Soral. “They seek to make racism an opinion, not an offense. We therefore continue to do what we can to pursue justice.” As for Dieudonne, he seems to be enjoying his ongoing attempts to test the limits of French anti-hate laws. In a video blog post last month, he showed a picture of John Travolta on the dance floor, one hand stretched heavenward. The caption? Disco Nazi. www.timesofisrael.com/french-use-nazi-like-salute-with-impunity/ |
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 28, 2013 19:54:45 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 28, 2013 19:56:19 GMT
And who is Anelka's "Comedian Friend Dieudonne"? FRANCE 24 Latest update : 2013-12-28 French Interior Minister Manuel Valls announced on Friday that he would try to legally ban performances by French comic and actor Dieudonné, who has frequently been accused of anti-Semitism. Dieudonné is best known for televised sketch comedy and a one-man show in Paris, in which he professes staunch anti-Israel views that many say amount to hate speech. He has also downplayed the significance of the Holocaust, calling commemorations “memorial pornography”. “Despite a conviction for public defamation, hate speech and racial discrimination, Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala no longer seems to recognise any limits,” a statement released by Valls read. “Consequently, the interior minister has decided to thoroughly examine all legal options that would allow a ban on Dieudonné’s public gatherings, which no longer belong to the artistic domain, but rather amount to a public safety risk.” ‘Time to silence him’ Roger Cukierman, the president of CRIF, the main French Jewish lobby, applauded the decision in an interview with French television channel i>TELE. “It’s a step in the right direction, because if we continue letting him do as he pleases, violence could result,” he said. “It’s time to silence him. He’s no longer a comic; he has become a peddler of hate.” The latest controversy surrounding Dieudonné began when footage captured by a hidden camera planted in his theatre was broadcast on French television channel France 2 in mid-December. Performing onstage, Dieudonné said about prominent French Jewish radio journalist Patrick Cohen: “Me, you see, when I hear Patrick Cohen speak, I think to myself: ‘Gas chambers…too bad [they no longer exist].” Radio France, Cohen’s employer, announced on December 20 that it had alerted authorities that Dieudonné had engaged in “openly anti-Semitic speech”, and various French anti-racism watchdog groups filed complaints. Friends on the far right Dieudonné is also behind a hand gesture known as the “quenelle” – described as a sort of downward-pointing Nazi salute – that has become popular among some young people in France. The French-born son of a Cameroonian father and a white French mother, the 47-year-old Dieudonné has a diverse legion of followers, though his main fans tend to be young French people who espouse “anti-system” views. But the comic has also found support on the far-right political fringe; he counts Jean-Marie Le Pen, former leader of the far-right National Front party, as a close friend and has regularly invited well-known Holocaust denier Robert Faurisson onstage during his shows. www.france24.com/en/20131227-dieudonne-france-famous-french-comic-show-could-be-banned-anti-semitic-content/ |
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 28, 2013 20:10:46 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 29, 2013 13:24:19 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 29, 2013 13:48:18 GMT
And the New York Times... But from WBA...Still no condemnation NYT Anelka Made a Gesture Offensive to Some Ian Kington/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Nicolas Anelka made a gesture called a quenelle after scoring on Saturday. He had two goals in West Brom's 3-3 tie against West Ham. By JACK BELL Add Nicolas Anelka to a list of soccer players who have made gestures on the field that could be interpreted as offensive. League Scoreboards On Saturday, as his West Bromwich Albion club played to a 3-3 draw with West Ham United, Anelka reached across his body with his left hand and touched his right shoulder with the arm stretched straight down, an action called a quenelle. The gesture, which was made popular first in 2005 by the French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, is viewed by some people as being anti-Semitic. Anelka made the sign after scoring West Brom’s first goal on Saturday, in the 40th minute. He followed with a second goal before halftime. The salute, which has been associated with France’s ultra-right wing National Front, has been used in the past several years in front of Jews’ buildings or places that have significance to Jews, like museums. Some see the quenelle as a reverse Nazi salute, and it has been described as anti-Zionist and anti-Israel. Dieudonne has said the gesture is antiestablishment and is not meant to slur Jews. After the match, West Brom’s Coach Keith Downing said that both he and his 34-year-old French striker was taken aback by the reaction. “I’m aware of it, but it has got nothing to do what is being said,” Downing said at his postgame news conference. “It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well. He uses it in his act and I think speculation can be stopped now. It is absolute rubbish really. He is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around. He is totally surprised by it.” Recently, two players — Paolo di Canio of Italy and Josip Simunic of Croatia — were criticized for their salutes after games that were seen as having fascist overtones. Simunic was suspended by FIFA for 10 games after a salute after a World Cup game was viewed as facisist. Di Canio, who was manager of Sunderland in England’s Premier League for a short spell, has been unapologetic about his political and social beliefs. The sport has also experienced outbreaks of racist and anti-Semitic behavior by fans throughout Europe. Fans of teams with large Jewish followings, like Tottenham in England, have experienced opposing fans making hissing sounds, a grotesque emulation of the gas chambers at Nazi concentration camps, during matches. Spurs fans were met by the sounds at a match in Rome and in England against West Ham. Numerous black players throughout Europe have been the targets of racist taunts from fans throughout the continent. One involved the American international striker Jozy Altidore when he was playing for AZ in the Netherlands last season.  www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/sports/soccer/anelka-made-gesture-offensive-to-some.html?hpw&rref=sports&_r=1& |
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 30, 2013 15:05:33 GMT
WBA Official Site PUBLISHED 14:30 30th December 2013 Official WBA statement WEST Bromwich Albion has released the following statement regarding the gesture Nicolas Anelka made after scoring his first goal against West Ham United on Saturday: “Nicolas was asked to explain his goal celebration by Caretaker Head Coach, Keith Downing, within minutes of the game finishing at West Ham. Nicolas said that he performed the gesture to dedicate his goal to a friend and vehemently denied having any intention to cause offence. “Upon reporting for training this morning, Nicolas was asked by Sporting & Technical Director Richard Garlick to give a full explanation about his goal celebration, during which he again strongly denied intending to cause offence. “The Club fully acknowledges that Nicolas’ goal celebration has caused offence in some quarters and has asked Nicolas not to perform the gesture again. Nicolas immediately agreed to adhere to this request. “The Club is aware that The Football Association is investigating the matter and has offered its full co-operation. The Club will continue to make its own enquiries – a process which will remain confidential between the Club and Nicolas. “Nicolas is eligible for matches whilst The FA carries out its investigation. Therefore, Nicolas will remain under consideration for first-team selection whilst The FA and Club continue their enquiries.” Read more at www.wba.co.uk/news/article/update-anelka-goal-celebration-1264852.aspx#kTRym9sj94OapKs4.99 |
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Dec 30, 2013 15:10:03 GMT
That horrible sh1t deserves a lengthy ban.
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peterg
Ian Holloway
Posts: 466
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Post by peterg on Dec 30, 2013 15:53:33 GMT
Anelka is certainly a Pratt
I can't see a lengthy ban for this. Fundamentally how many people realised that this was an anti Jewish gesture at the time. I have to admit that I didn't.
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 30, 2013 16:02:54 GMT
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peterg
Ian Holloway
Posts: 466
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Post by peterg on Dec 30, 2013 18:29:56 GMT
Yes I have read about him since but only because of the publicity caused by the outcry
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 31, 2013 17:01:29 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 31, 2013 17:03:59 GMT
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Post by Macmoish on Dec 31, 2013 21:40:46 GMT
I appreciate I'm on a one man crusade (Pretty much on any of the QPR Boards that I've seen. But that's ok. Been there; done that, before!) Independent (Ireland) Nicolas Anelka should be punished for his celebration against West Ham, according to Piara Powar 31 December 2013 Nicolas Anelka should face punishment for his controversial 'quenelle' goal celebration but the incident is not as serious as the racist abuse which Luis Suarez and John Terry were guilty of, according to a leading anti-racism campaigner.Piara Powar, the executive director of the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) anti-discrimination network, said Anelka's salute had highlighted the growing influence of far-right groups in football. The West Brom striker's gesture after scoring against West Ham on Saturday is under investigation by the Football Association. The 'quenelle' - which translates literally as 'dumpling' in English - was brought to prominence by French comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, who has been prosecuted for anti-Semitism. Powar said: "The rise of the far right is one of the most dangerous phenomena facing Europe right now. Whether these are groups of anti-Semites like Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, Islamophobic groups like the EDL (English Defence League) or the more usual white power street skinheads, they are active and alive in football. "In that context alone it was disappointing to see someone like Anelka make the quenelle gesture. "The English FA now has rules against acts by players of this kind and Anelka will no doubt be punished. "The gesture made by Anelka is damaging but in my view it is not the same as the abuse meted out by Luis Suarez and John Terry. The context and intent is an important distinguisher." Both Liverpool striker Suarez and Chelsea defender Terry were banned in 2012 for racially abusing opponents - for eight and four matches respectively, The quenelle is claimed by some to be an inverted Nazi salute and to have anti-Semitic connotations, and Anelka has promised not to repeat the goal celebration. Montpellier defender Mathieu Deplagne, Manchester City's Samir Nasri, Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho and NBA basketball star Tony Parker have all been pictured making the salute, but all deny any anti-Semitic connotations. Powar warned however that it was still "dangerous". He added: "The fact that the players may have been conned into mimicking something in support of a friend makes it no less a dangerous gesture. "There is a wider and important context of the rise of someone like Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala. French race politics and the way in which race plays an increasing part of life in France, are becoming distorted and murky. Many believe that the French integrationist approach to racial diversity is failing. "No doubt part of the appeal of something like the quenelle is that it has also come to be seen as anti- establishment." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who first brought Anelka to English football, believes only the player himself can say whether he knew the full implications of his celebration. Wenger said the meaning of the gesture was not widely known even in France but that players should refrain from celebrating in any way which might "encourage hate". Wenger told a news conference: "Personally I believe there is only one beautiful way to celebrate a goal and that is to share it with your partners. That should be for me the only way. "The second thing is that nobody knows in France what it means. Some make it an anti-system movement, some make it an anti-Semitic movement. I think personally I don't know, I have never seen this movement. "Do we make too much of it? Yes, because he is not (going) to do it again, he has said he will not do it again. Only he can answer whether he knows what it means or not." Anelka has stated on Twitter it was nothing more than a "special dedication to his friend Dieudonne" but West Brom have conceded the gesture caused offence and he has agreed not to repeat it. Wenger said if it was proved to be a "lack of respect" then Anelka could expect an FA charge. He added: "If it is an offence and is recognised as an offence and a lack of respect, you want it to be punished, like every single thing. "What is important is we respect each other and do not show (lack of respect), especially the sportsmen, who are very popular and watched all over the world. We do not want to encourage hate, we want to encourage understanding and respect." www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/powar-calls-for-anelka-sanction-29878750.html |
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Post by londonranger on Dec 31, 2013 23:01:51 GMT
Mac, you know Im with you. The Tides of anti-semitism have risen and fallen over the centuries. They tend to be on the upslope as 2013 comes to end.
France in particular, (remember the Dreyfuss affair) seems to leap higher on the bandwagon, and were complicit in helping nazis during holocaust.
Those that survived the holocaust kept a strong sense of humour, and were determined to survive.
Being a minority, whatever it is, demands, us, as fans, to see ones inner love of self, and not to be too dependent on the perceived "hate". what others think.
As I said in an earlier post, this is learned at an early age and or complimented by group activities. But you are correct, the team owners and the League must
take a strong stand and place bans on these individuals.
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Post by sharky on Jan 1, 2014 4:58:34 GMT
Our on loan BA-E in trouble too. From the Daily Mail www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2532017/Spurs-rap-Assou-Ekotto-race-tweet-inviting-comedian-White-Hart-Lane.html?ico=sport^headlines Spurs rap Assou-Ekotto over race tweet inviting comedian to White Hart LaneBy MATT LAWTON and NEIL ASHTON PUBLISHED: 00:33 GMT, 1 January 2014 | UPDATED: 00:33 GMT, 1 January 2014 Benoit Assou-Ekotto was at the centre of another French race storm on Tuesday after it emerged that he had invited anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala to a game at Tottenham, insisting he would ‘love it’. In a tweet that has now been deleted, the Tottenham left back — currently on loan at QPR — messaged the man who invented the controversial quenelle gesture used by Nicolas Anelka to celebrate a goal for West Brom on Saturday at West Ham. French-born Assou-Ekotto said: ‘oh dieudo tu vien quand voir un match a tottenham? Tu va adore ... LOL.’ In English it reads: ‘When are you coming to watch a match at Tottenham? You’ll love it ... LOL.’ The tweet, sent on November 18, is open to interpretation, but in the context of a tweet he then posted in support of Anelka at the weekend, it is sure to concern a club with strong Jewish roots. On December 28, Assou-Ekotto tweeted Anelka, saying: ‘jte fellicite man belle keunel epaule.’ Translated, it means: ‘I congratulate you on the beautiful quenelle.’ The tweet is written in French slang but a French linguist told Sportsmail that ‘keunel epaule’ is a text-language spelling for the ‘quenelle épaulée’, referring to the ‘shoulder’ quenelle. Controversial: Dieudonne M'bala M'bala That tweet has also now been deleted by Cameroon defender Assou-Ekotto, 29, but Tottenham issued a statement in response. ‘The matter has been discussed with the player and, while he meant no offence by his post, he accepts this was ill-advised and deleted the tweet,’ it said. When Sportsmail asked Tottenham to clarify which of the two tweets the statement was referring to, the club replied: ‘It’s referring to any tweets concerning this matter.’ It is understood Assou-Ekotto has adopted the same position as Anelka and Manchester City’s Samir Nasri, who argue that the quenelle is an anti-establishment gesture and not anti-Semitic, though Nasri did apologise for ‘causing any hurt’. Assou-Ekotto’s advisers stressed last night that he has campaigned against racism since becoming a Tottenham player and has been involved in a number of the club’s community schemes. The incident comes with the FA under mounting pressure from anti-discrimination groups to charge Anelka following his controversial goal celebration. Piara Powar, executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe, has demanded sanctions against the West Brom striker following the gesture at Upton Park. It also emerged that Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, has written to FA chairman Greg Dyke and UEFA president Michel Platini over incidents of anti-Semitism. Powar said: ‘The fact that the players may have been conned into mimicking something in support of a friend makes it no less a dangerous gesture. Out of favour: Assou-Ekotto is on loan at QPR after failing to hold down a place in the Tottenham side In hot water: Nicolas Anelka (left) was heavily criticised for celebrating with the 'quenelle' salute ‘The rise of the far right is one of the most dangerous phenomena facing Europe. Whether these are groups of anti-Semites like Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala, Islamophobic groups like the EDL (English Defence League) or the more usual white power street skinheads, they are active and alive in football. ‘The English FA now has rules against acts by players of this kind and Anelka will no doubt be punished.’ Anelka is under investigation over the incident from his own club, but is free to play until the FA make a decision. However, he is unlikely to play in the home match against Newcastle on Wednesday and has not apologised, though Albion have ordered him not to repeat the gesture. On Tuesday, the FA were continuing their investigation and were speaking to a number of anti-discrimination groups for their interpretation of events at Upton Park. |
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Post by Macmoish on Jan 1, 2014 9:02:22 GMT
Not good.
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Post by Macmoish on Jan 1, 2014 14:05:39 GMT
Anelka Starts today for WBA vs Newcastle
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Post by Macmoish on Jan 2, 2014 10:39:02 GMT
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Post by CookesPie&Mash on Jan 2, 2014 20:39:16 GMT
Never read so much tripe .... what the hell has that gesture got to do with anti semitism  . Honestly the the lengths some groups will go to voice their own anger is whats really disgusting . Do they now ban films of romans doing the same salute nazi salute in reverse ha haha these people need to get a life utter crap and needless whining. Bloody religieon does NOT belong in football , said it many times. What next ban bacon rolls or pork sausages ? ......all bollox |
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Post by londonranger on Jan 2, 2014 21:14:12 GMT
Wenger.
Arsene Wenger believes only Nicolas Anelka can say whether he knew the full implications of his controversial 'quenelle' goal celebration
The West Brom striker caused uproar with his gesture, which is claimed by some to be an inverted Nazi salute and to have anti-Semitic connotations. The Football Association is currently investigating.
Wenger, the Arsenal manager who first brought Anelka to English football, said the meaning of the gesture was not widely known even in France.
The Gunners boss does believe however that players should refrain from celebrating in any way which might "encourage hate".
Wenger told a news conference: "Personally I believe there is only one beautiful way to celebrate a goal and that is to share it with your partners. That should be for me the only way.
"The second thing is that nobody knows in France what it means. Some make it an anti-system movement, some make it an anti-Semitic movement. I think personally I don't know, I have never seen this movement.
"Do we make too much of it? Yes, because he is not (going) to do it again, he has said he will not do it again. Only he can answer (whether) he knew what it meant or not."
The 'quenelle' salute was brought to prominence in France by comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, who has been prosecuted for anti-Semitism.
Anelka has stated on Twitter it was nothing more than a "special dedication to his friend Dieudonne" but West Brom have conceded the gesture caused offence and he has agreed not to repeat it.
Wenger said if it was proved to be a "lack of respect" then Anelka could expect an FA charge.
He added: "If it is an offence and is recognised as an offence and a lack of respect, you want it to be punished, like every single thing.
"What is important is we respect each other and do not show (lack of respect), especially the sportsmen, who are very popular and watched all over the world. We do not want to encourage hate, we want to encourage understanding and respect."
Pictures have also emerged of two other French players, Samir Nasri and Mamadou Sakho, performing the gesture.
Nasri clarified his position, stressing it was his view that it should be portrayed as an anti-establishment gesture rather than anything more sinister.
He said on Twitter: "The pose in the picture i posted over 2 months ago symbolises being against the system. Its has absolutely nothing to do with being anti semitic or against jewish people. I apologise for causing any hurt to anyone who might have been mislead into thinking this means anything of that nature."
Liverpool defender Sakho said in November that he was tricked into performing the gesture.
He wrote on his Twitter account: "This photo was taken six months ago, I did not know the meaning of this gesture, I got trapped!"
On Monday, a Liverpool spokesperson told Press Association Sport: "Mamadou Sakho has explained that when posing for the photo, taken over six months ago, he had no knowledge of any meaning or significance attached to the gesture."
PA
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Post by Macmoish on Jan 8, 2014 16:55:32 GMT
I've continued to tweet about Anelka and where's the FA (to the "annoyance" of at least a couple of WBA Fans... And then there are tweets like this... The 911 Watch @the911watch Exposing media lies & fighting zionism. |
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Post by alfaranger on Jan 8, 2014 17:50:48 GMT
I've continued to tweet about Anelka and where's the FA (to the "annoyance" of at least a couple of WBA Fans... And then there are tweets like this... The 911 Watch @the911watch Exposing media lies & fighting zionism. Started looking at this group after your post and there are links everywhere. I hadn't realized how deep this goes. I had no need to look. I came across a Muslim site which says, "Everyone knows there's not a shred of evidence connecting Muslims to 9/11 and everything points to a plot hatched in Tel Aviv". I'm stunned! |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2014 19:38:34 GMT
Dont be stunned mac, i've heard all sorts of conspiracy theories concerning 9/11, its either the arms dealers, the oil company's, the cia, the Israeli's, I even heard from a friend(think he was smoking some heavy sh*t that day) that it was a controlled explosion that the towers were rigged with tnt and the planes we all see didnt exist but were holograms. that people believe all this is frightening really. but i'm with you mac i hope this far right nonsense we are seeing in Europe doesn't get so far out of hand in the future that history repeats itself, we all know if we allow these things to go unchallenged they build up to a state were we the people cant control it.
Its only right you keep highlighting these anti-semitic gesture's qoutes/acts mac, only through keeping this in the spotlight can we make sure the horrors of the holocaust are never repeated. Ignoring it and saying its not my problem will only serve to help those doing these things, everytime we can shame these fools then the less chance of their goals becoming reality. I know what your saying cookespie&mash that religion shouldn't be brought into sport and your right, but as Anelka brought it into sport its down to us to make sure its not brought into sport, like i say ignoring it is not an option.
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Sabas
Dave Sexton
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Post by Sabas on Jan 8, 2014 20:25:00 GMT
In these cases you just have to be sure. Because you can't be 60/40 before you condemn the guy. It's some serious stuff you're accusing the man of.
If you stop investigating halfway and you're satisfied "well, at least it's controversial", that's not good enough. While I can understand where West Brom supporter's frustration is coming from, insisting that the gesture was "‘solidarity’ with a man who thinks it’s a pity my family weren’t gassed to death in concentration camps" is some strong stuff.
Sure, Dieudonne is a muslim who has issues with 'Jewish establishment', but are you saying he's a nazi and that by this association so is Anelka? If not, what are you saying?
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Post by CookesPie&Mash on Jan 8, 2014 21:36:47 GMT
Its just NOT a nazi salute get over it , im sick of hearing anti this and that , yes you can ignore it perhaps then these dolts will cease doing it . whatever it is .
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Post by Macmoish on Jan 8, 2014 23:19:34 GMT
I'm not convicting Mr. Anelka before he has his "day in court". But I certainly feel the FA Should have already charged him...and then see where we go.
Or alternatively the FA COULD say nothing there...
But it really doesnt take 10 or more days to do something...
Think of the norm in which the FA acts...on Disciplinary hearings...
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Post by cpr on Jan 8, 2014 23:57:21 GMT
I watched that game and had no idea about the goal celebration or it's apparent meaning.
Seems a bit I say, you say to me. If it's made up by someone, how does somebody else know it's meaning?
Can only say that if it's taken to mean something by the powers that be then by popular request it should be banned.
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Sabas
Dave Sexton
Posts: 2,349
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Post by Sabas on Jan 9, 2014 2:49:59 GMT
Charge him of what? Do the FA have to investigate every gesture and have their opinion about everything?
Maybe they don't know, they're not sure.
What's your opinion, you have the same resources? You're not sure, why would you expect the FA to be?
But regarding the accusations, you know how it works... you say "hey, perhaps this and that was anti-semitic!" and then you say, well maybe not I just don 't know... But that thing stays with the accused one.
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. Honestly the the lengths some groups will go to voice their own anger is whats really disgusting . Do they now ban films of romans doing the same salute 
