Friday 28 February 2014

Well done, the England & Wales Football Association (FA).

I also want to say well done to the football club West Bromwich Albion (WBA), who Anelka plays for, in taking the stance they have against him.

For anyone who thought the FA means nothing, should look at the way they have dealt with Nicolas Anelka over the way he celebrated a goal over West Ham football club a few months ago, that made me and countless others feel sick.

Nicolas Anelka is now banned by the Football Association and suspended by West Bromwich Albion – the club he played for - over his quenelle gesture.

Anelka was told to stay away from his club pending an internal inquiry after escaping with the minimum possible suspension from an independent regulatory commission for his ‘inverted Nazi salute’ goal -celebration last year, at West Ham United on Dec 28.

For anyone willing to show sympathy towards Nicolas Anelka over the quenelle gesture, I can assure you that Black and mixed race people who had African ancestry were also treated badly and persecuted by the Nazis.

The 34-year-old was banned for five matches, fined £80,000 and ordered to complete a compulsory education course, despite a three-man panel of consisting of a QC, an FA official and a former player or manager clearing him of any anti-Semitic intent.

Anelka’s been a professional football player in England for years – he has played for Arsenal in his 20s – in other words, this means he knew this country’s FA have been making an effort to get rid of racism in football.

The football club he played for when he made that gesture, WBA, said the FA had proven Anelka’s conduct was "abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper" and "included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief."

But it added in a statement: "We did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle."

The bottom line is, fascism always includes the persecution of something, someone, or an ethnic/religious group and it’s not about an issue we can all agree on, such as eliminating poverty.

At his age, Anelka was more than old enough to know better, so cheers to both the FA and WBA in taking the stand they have in dealing with him and his behaviour in December 2013.

Light and Peace

Andria


PS, to see copies of my previous work, click here.