Nicolas Anelka faces ban over goal celebration

London: Nicolas Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban from the FA after producing a goal celebration branded ‘disgusting’ and ‘clearly anti-Semitic’.

The West Bromwich Albion striker is set to become the first player sanctioned under rules brought in by English football’s governing body in May to combat racist behaviour.

The European Jewish Congress have called for police involvement and for Anelka to receive the same punishment that would be handed down for a Nazi salute. The Metropolitan Police said they took all allegations of hate crime seriously and would consider whether action is required.

The FA have launched an investigation into Anelka’s ‘quenelle’ gesture, used after scoring at West Ham during Saturday’s 3-3 draw, and are consulting anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out and Jewish community groups.

The new guidelines mean that Anelka, if found guilty, can receive a suspension for at least five matches and it could be ‘significantly’ longer. No timescale has been placed on when a decision will be reached.

Anelka, 34, a practising Muslim, is said to be astonished at the controversy and tweeted that he was only giving a “special dedication” to his comedian friend Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, who regularly uses the gesture on stage.

Dieudonne has convictions for spreading race hate, and last week interior minister Manuel Valls announced that “all legal means” to ban M’bala from making public appearances were being considered, saying: “He attacks the memory of Holocaust victims in an obvious and unbearable way.”

The quenelle — touching a shoulder with one hand, keeping the other arm pointed downwards — is said to be an inverted Nazi salute. M’bala and his supporters claim it is merely an anti-Zionist, anti-establishment signal and the 47-year-old has threatened to sue those suggesting otherwise.

The gesture has gone viral on social media and two soldiers were sanctioned by the French army in September for performing it in uniform in front of a Paris synagogue.

Anelka took to Twitter again last night to insist that his gesture had no religious or anti-Semitic connection. He wrote: “Meaning of quenelle: anti-system. I do not know what the word religion has to do with this story!”

“The quenelle is a dedication to Dini. With regard to the ministers who give their own interpretations they are the ones who create the confusion and controversy without knowing what the gesture really means! I shall therefore ask the people not to be duped by the media. And of course, I am neither anti-Semitic nor racist.”

M’bala applauded Anelka in a post on his Facebook page. “Excellent live quenelle by Anelka,” he wrote. “Thanks for the support.”

But Anelka’s actions were roundly criticised elsewhere. Valerie Fourneyron, the French sports minister, said: “Anelka’s gesture is a shocking, disgusting provocation. There is no place for anti-Semitism and incitement to hatred on the football pitch.”

Chantal Jouanno, the former sports minister and a senator in Paris, said: “The quenelle is a Nazi gesture, clearly anti-Semitic and known as such. It is not worth arguing about interpretation. We must be clear about our values. He must be punished.”

European Jewish Congress president Dr Moshe Kantor wants Anelka dealt with as if he “had made the infamous outstretched arm salute” of the Nazis.

“It is sickening that such a well-known footballer would make such an abusive and hateful gesture in front of tens of thousands of spectators. We expect that the English Premier League officials as well as the police will give Anelka the appropriate punishment.”

A lengthy ban for Anelka may signal the end of his career, with rumours of his retirement already emerging earlier this season.

Hull forward Yannick Sagbo tweeted a picture of Anelka’s celebration and called him a “legend” while expressing support for M’bala.

Other footballers have been pictured making the gesture, including Mamadou Sakho last month. But the Liverpool defender later said he had been tricked.