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Well I must be the simplest of idiots then because by actually participating in an international game that is showing some form of relationship with the government of that nation. Saudi Arabia teaches antisemitism in schools so surely no one should play Saudi Arabia. Take a stance like that to its logical conclusion and there would be no international football. A situation I may say that I would not be disappointed by.

no political gestures in football, that should be obvious to the simplest of idiots. he deserves the punishment.

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What about Mandela?


I don't believe in politics in football but it should be a blanket ban just not picking and choosing when its right or not.

If I had my way I'd get rid of the poppy too.

Your defence comes close to that of those who said Suarez was okay for saying what he did because that's what people say in Uruguay.

Maybe there is truth, and even right, in what you say - but this is a gesture which is bound to cause controversy. It has been seen as antisemitic in many instances in the past, so Anelka knew that. And his defense of it was laughable.

I would say that making this kind of gesture on the football pitch is asking for trouble, no matter what people's politics may be.

You are confusing antizionism with antisemitism SHH which is what the Zionists want. Antizionism is a political campaign like anti apartheid. Antisemism is a form of race hatred although strictly the Jews are a religious and cultural group not a race.

I think you're misreading my post, actually. My point was, it is a controversial gesture that many believe to be antisemitic, and Anelka knows that - doing it on the football pitch, to the camera, was a purposefully inflammatory gesture which was bound to cause an issue.

If he feels strongly about the issues surrounding this, why not come out and speak about it - rather than making a gesture which will achieve nothing other than give ammo to its opponents.

Having said that, I don't fully agree with that it isn't antisemitic - it's a grey area. It may have started out with other intentions, but it is now used by antisemitic people.

If Anelka intended to bring the Palestinian position into the spotlight them he has succeeded, and I doubt very much whether the associated club fine would bother him in the slightest.

It's much like the current Lib-Dem Lord Ranbard controversy though: it's about public perception of the 'offence' and that's difficult to qualify or quantify. Did he mean it as anti-Semitic? Was it for his friend? Was it cramp?

He's a pro sportsman: if he wants a platform to express whatever his views might be, the pitch isn't the place to do it and he should be fined for it.

Bloody hell. I agree with 666.

There are similarities with Di Canio and the Fascist salute. He would argue that the Italian Fascist party aren't racist or anti-Semitic but it's still seen as an offensive gesture because of the connotations with Hitler. Both aren't acceptable on the football pitch and both needed punishment. Saying that, is it all possible to be anti-Zionist without being accused of being anti-Semitic?

Now i thought a quenelle was the flappy bit inside a womens

I know Jews who are antizionist


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Yeah right. Sure you do.

Also it depends on on how you define Zionist. The German National Socialist Party defined Zionists as anyone that had any Hebrew genes. The problem is that anti-Semitic people in the past have used the term Zionist as interchangeable and regardless of how people "mean it" now it has a racist connotation to a lot of people. If being perceived as anti-Semitic is something to you are into then by all means use the quenelle. I personally believe Anelka should be able to make whatever gestures he likes, but he has to live with the consequences of those actions. So if he wants to present himself as an ignorant person that is his business.

He has used a football celebration to show his support for Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, this is a man who has close associations with the French National front (their leader Le Pen is godfather to one of his daughters), has celebrated holocaust denier Robert Faurisson and has been quoted as wishing a Jewish journalist had been gassed. In my opinion he should have been immediately banned and his club should be shamed as it seems that their sponsors have taken the moral high ground in a grubby situation.

Well said, Tigger. Read more about this comedian last night - I thought he was just controversial, didn't realise quite what a s(umhole he was.

Can't Believe some of the comments on here. If someone made a gesture that could be associated in any as has anti Muslim or any other group come to think of it. The press and social media would have gone mental. There'd have been calls for him to never play in the country again. The hysteria would have been endless.

But when it's the Jews it hardly matters. The odd thing is it tends to be the lefty types, that find offence and discrimination everywhere that ate happiest to let this go on.

Ouandja Magloire is prepared to chew the fat with/of Anelka about all this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25708570

Mentalzballz.

Have you ever been to Israel Spart?

A five game ban isn't enough, in reality.

I think (could be wrong) that the salute was aimed at the French government, rather than a 'fascist' salute. The fact he hasn't said anything makes it worse. The numpty.

Let's get this right, once and for all... Anti-semitism includes the Palestinians, too. They are all Semites.

I wish these Abhramic sorts would sort out their differences - would make a peaceful existence for the rest of us and them, once they stop believing in fairytales because they were born into it.

(apologies Rev - don't want to put you out a job)


Science is the way. Evidence!

An interesting reaction from the Jewish leader that Anelka tried to use to prove he wasn't anti-semitic: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/23/nicolas-anelka-jewish-quenelle?CMP=twt_gu

Honestly, I do believe Anelka probably isn't anti-semitic. Just stupid.

"I wish these Abhramic sorts would sort out their differences".....So do I but it's hard when one country wants to live in peace but some of the others want to wipe it off the face of the earth.