An independent regulatory commission report has been released today outlining the reasons why Nicholas Anelka was given a five-match ban and an £80,000 fine following his quenelle gesture. The commission released a 35-page document on Thursday explaining how they arrived at their decision after Anelka performed the gesture when celebrating a goal in West Broms 3-3 against West Ham. Anelka was found guilty of breaching rule E3 whereby he used abusive, indecent, insulting or improper behaviour which included a reference to ethnic origin or race or religion. The commission concluded the quenelle gesture is strongly associated with Dieudonne and strongly associated with anti-semitism. As a result, they agreed with the FA that is not possible to divorce that association from the gesture. They found it was thereby insulting and abusive and felt it was improper for Anelka to make that gesture. Given it was his first such breach of the rules, the starting point for sanctions was a mandatory suspension of not less than five matches. The commission revealed they had considered both the John Terry and Luis Suarez cases. They felt the Suarez case - for which the Uruguayan was given an eight-match suspension - was more serious because it had five identified aggravating factors. They also concluded such conduct undermines campaigns to promote inclusivity, equality and diversity. It is understood that the FA were hoping for a more severe punishment for Anelka. Both the FA have and Anelka have seven days to appeal the sanctions.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 16:39:51 +0000
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