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Nicolas Anelka Causing More Damage Than Good at West Brom

ANELKA

The former French international was officially charged by the Football Association with “a gesture which was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to FA Rule E3[1].” The institution also said in an official statement, “It is further alleged that this is an aggravated breach, as defined in FA Rule E3[2], in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief.” The accusation comes after Nicolas Anelka’s celebration in the first of two goals he netted on December 18, 2013 versus West Ham at Boleyn Ground.

The ‘quenelle’ gesture used by Nicolas Anelka even caught France’s Minister of Sports, Youth, Popular Education and Community Life, Valerie Fourneyron, who called the scene “shocking, provocation, disgusting,” via a tweet.

The West Bromwich Albion’s striker has said his celebration was aimed at comedian, countryman and friend Dieudonne M’Bala M’Bala, who is reportedly to have ‘invented’ the ‘quenelle’ gesture. M’Bala M’Bala has been reportedly to have had multiple shows cancelled throughout France because of his usage of the sign.

Anelka will have until Thursday to respond to the FA charge, but continues available to perform for West Brom manager Pepe Mel. The striker moved west of England early in July of last year from Juventus in a free transfer. So in the short-term, Anelka hasn’t cost a penny to the Baggies. Yet in the long run, the club won’t have their contract renewed with their main jersey sponsor, the company said earlier this week. The property website Zoopla, owned by the Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman, which since June 2012 has provided £3 million in funds for West Brom, decided go into separate ways, as announced in their Twitter account.

With the continuation of the former French international in WBA group, it’ll become a struggle for the team to land any new investor. Nobody won’t wan to be associated to a club which hosts a player who has been accused of an anti-Semitic attitude.

In addition, Anelka is yet to mark his territory in the Baggies’ offense. More than half of the BPL is gone and the former French international has only started 10 matches picking up two goals and zero assists. But also he set aside treating a thigh knock for a month at the end of 2013, putting him far away from the top scorers and decisive men this season for WBA.

If sentenced by the FA, Anelka will be absent from at least five West Brom games, according to the FIFA disciplinary code section 3 article 58 that says, “1. a) Anyone who offends the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning race, colour, language, religion or origin shall be suspended for at least five matches. Furthermore, a stadium ban and a fi ne of at least CHF 20,000 shall be imposed. If the perpetrator is an official, the fi ne shall be at least CHF 30,000.”

But his penalty could go as high as 10 matches.

After the complete transaction between Hull City and West Brom estimated at  £7 million for Shane Long, this could have been Anelka’s moment to show all his has left in the tank and finish up the BPL year strong.

However, it’s more likely that after the suspension Mel will find himself struggling with dilemma of lack of strikers at West Brom.

As for now, Anelka’s official last day of contract with his club is set to the end of the season.