De Franse voetballer Nicolas Anelka deed zaterdagavond flink wat stof opwaaien in Groot-Brittannië. Niet alleen scoorde de West Brom-speler twee keer in de wedstrijd tegen West Ham, hij maakte ook het ‘quenelle’-gebaar. Volgens Anelka ging het om een eerbetoon aan zijn vriend Dieudonné M’bala. [De Standaard]
Nicolas Anelka faces sanction for ‘disgusting’ gesture in West Brom draw [The Guardian] …Anelka confirmed to Downing that he did perform a quenelle, described by some as a “reverse Nazi salute”, after his 40th-minute strike at Upton Park but as far as the West Brom hierarchy are concerned, it was done as a tribute to the French comedian Dieudonné, a friend of Anelka.
“This gesture was just a special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonné,” Anelka tweeted in both French and English on his official account. …
Dieudonné is a controversial figure in France, having been accused of insulting the memory of Holocaust victims. The quenelle is Dieudonné’s signature gesture, although he insists it is an anti-establishment gesture and not against Jewish people. Anelka has previously been photographed performing the gesture alongside Dieudonné but Saturday’s events brought the debate to England while provoking further outrage and debate in France, where the match was televised.
On Saturday night the French minister for sport, Valérie Fourneyron, condemned the gesture, describing it as “disgusting”, and said through her Twitter account: “Anelka’s gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting. There’s no place for antisemitism and incitement to hatred on the football field.”
Dr Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said it was “sickening that such a well-known footballer would make such an abusive and hateful gesture in front of tens of thousands of spectators”.
“This salute is merely a lesser-known Nazi salute and we expect the same kind of punishment to be handed down by the authorities as if Anelka had made the infamous outstretched arm salute.This salute was created by a well-known extreme antisemite who has displayed his hatred of Jews, mocked the Holocaust and Jewish suffering.”
“I’m aware of it but it has got nothing to do with what is being said,” Downing replied when asked about the gesture. “It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very well.
“I think speculation can be stopped now, it is 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.”
It is understood that the Football Association is aware of the gesture and will be looking into the matter.
Kick It Out, the anti-discrimination campaigning group, said it was assessing the gesture from Anelka and would help the FA if its assistance is requested. A statement read: “The campaign is in contact with partners in England and France regarding this matter.”
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/28/west-bromwich-nicolas-anelka-nazi-gesture
Lees ook (met video): [La Libre] “La quenelle de Nicolas Anelka? “Une spéciale dédicace” à son “ami humoriste” “
Geste antisémite ou bras d’honneur anti-système? Le match entre West Ham et West Bromwich Albion ne promettait pas d’être des plus passionnants. C’était sans compter sur le concours de Nicolas Anelka. Juste avant la mi-temps, l’ancien international français a planté le premier but de son équipe, sur une belle passe en profondeur de Chris Brunt. Pour fêter cette égalisation, Anelka a choisi une geste sans équivoque, une quenelle.
Le geste “popularisé” par Dieudonné et lourd de sens risque bien de faire parler de lui. La quenelle est interprétée par certains comme un salut antisémite, pour d’autres il s’agit d’un simple bras d’honneur anti-système. Sur Twitter en tout cas, les réactions n’ont pas tardé à affluer. … http://www.lalibre.be/sports/football/la-quenelle-de-nicolas-anelka-une-speciale-dedicace-a-son-ami-humoriste-52bf026d3570105ef7decd86
http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20131229_00906322
De Standaard/The Guardian/La Libre – foto: Nicolas anelka doet de omgekeerde nazi-groet