West Bromwich Albion's French striker Nicolas Anelka was criticized by a French government minister and Jewish groups for celebrating a goal in the English Premier League with a gesture, called a ‘’Quenelle’’ which is viewed as being anti-Semitic.
The controversial gesture, a Nazi salute in reverse, was created by French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, a professed anti-Semite who is close to extreme-right French activists, Holocaust deniers and has been fined on numerous occasions for hate and anti-Semitic speech. He was convicted last month for a seventh time of incitement against Jews and slapped with a 20,000 euro ($28,000 ) fine.
His gesture involves pointing one straightened arm downward while touching that arm's shoulder with the opposite hand.
Anelka was pictured making the ‘Quenelle’ with Dieudonné, as well as celebrating scoring two goals for West Bromwich Albion in Saturday’s Premier League game against West Ham United.
French Spors Minister Valerie Fourneyron said: "Anelka's gesture is a shocking, disgusting provocation. No place for anti-Semitism and incitement to hatred on the football field."
European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor called on English Premier League officials to ban the French player.
“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,” Kantor said. “This salute was created by a well-known extreme anti-Semite who has displayed his hatred of Jews, mocked the Holocaust and Jewish suffering.”
“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,” Kantor continued. “There should be no room for such intolerance and racism in sports and we expect that the English
Premier League officials as well as the police will give Anelka the appropriate punishment.”
“We know that English football officials have a very low tolerance for racism at football matches and we hope that all concerned will abhor and show zero-tolerance for this hateful Nazi salute.”
England’s Football Association opened an investigation into the incident. Anelka could be penalized if the act is deemed to be offensive by soccer authorities.
A former French national team star who has played for top clubs including Arsenal and Real Madrid, Anelka converted to Islam in 2004.
West Bromwich coach Keith Downing said the player was "totally surprised" by the reaction to the gesture.
"It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well," Downing said of Anelka's celebration. "Anelka is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around."
The salute is rapidly spreading among anti-Semites in Europe and is being used by individuals to fly under the radar of anti-hate speech laws in parts of the continent. It has been used at sensitive sites like the Auschwitz concentration camp and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.
“Furthermore, we hope that this gesture is banned in all places of Europe where Nazi salutes are banned,” Kantor said. “Merely inverting the traditional Nazi salute should not allow anti-Semites to spread and display their hate with impunity.”
Jewish groups have complained to French President François Hollande about Dieudonne’s gesture. The French government is considering legal ways to ban performances by the comedian who is using them to defame Jews and spread his Holocaust denying remarks.