Nicolas Anelka

[Bender]

Shanghai's big spending side are just one point off the bottom of the league, and star striker Anelka has come under increasing pressure to improve, having only managed to score twice in his 12 matches so far.

However, with the pressure already on, tempers boiled over last weekend when Shanghai lost 1-0 to bottom-of-the-table outfit Qingdao Jonoon, prompting a frustrated Anelka to refuse to bow in front of his team-mates after the game.

Bowing is seen as a customary tradition in China, and a way of thanking the players and fans - many of whom had travelled over 700 miles to attend the away fixture.

Yet Anelka's refusal was not left at that, as one angry fan burst into the Shanghai hotel, and confronted Anelka in the dressing room dmeanding to know why he didn't bow with the rest of the team.

Anelka was dragged away by members of the security and coaching staff, but the furious fan soon caught up with the Shenhua skipper as he tried to board the team bus, once again starting a heated exchange.

'I took time off work and paid for flight tickets and a hotel to come to support you all, but you did what?,' said the supporter.
'You are the captain and you should be responsible for bowing to the fans - if you don't respect us, we don't respect you.'

The former France striker beckoned the fan over, before insisting 'I don't care', and climbed aboard the bus, leaving the gathering collection of fans stunned at his lack of respect.

The news has spread rapidly in China, and there are now calls of a range of sanctions to be brought against the player, including being stripped of the captaincy and fined wages.

But Anelka may not be around much longer to accept punishment, as he is reported to be preparing for a return to the Premier League with West Ham and QPR interested.
Shanghai would be willing to accept offers in the region of £5 million.


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/footbal...#ixzz1zvDeZMRZ

[Shaggy]

Haha what a surprise.

[BobTheCharmer]

Is this guy thick as pig **** or has his agent ****ed him over. Why the hell is any half decent player going to China? Obviously money but they'd be better playing in Russia where the standard is half decent. Mercenaries that are already rich beyond their dreams.

[saj]

Is this guy thick as pig **** or has his agent ****ed him over. Why the hell is any half decent player going to China? Obviously money but they'd be better playing in Russia where the standard is half decent. Mercenaries that are already rich beyond their dreams.

His brother is his agent and if I recall correctly is a total ******

[Lee]

£5m for a 32/33 year old.

Could've been one of the best strikers in the world had he settled down somewhere and ditched his brothers as agents.

[RichC]

Stupid thing to have done, whether he knows the context of the "salute" or not (I imagine he does) he should know better than to have done this.

Nicolas Anelka: West Brom striker 'surprised by celebration criticism'

France's sports minister has accused Nicolas Anelka of a "disgusting anti-Semitic" goal celebration during West Brom's 3-3 draw at West Ham.

Anelka, 34, made the "quenelle" - described as an inverted Nazi salute.

The French government is trying to ban comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala's shows over his use of the gesture.

Albion said it was not an anti-Semitic act, but Sport Minister Valerie Fourneyron criticised Anelka, who is also being investigated by the FA.

Fourneyron wrote : "Anelka's gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting. There's no place for anti-Semitism on the football field."

But Anelka defended his action, saying: "This gesture was a special dedication to my friend Dieudonne."

Albion caretaker manager Keith Downing said Anelka was "totally surprised" by the furore, despite the French government announcing on Friday that it was studying legal options to ban performances by Dieudonne.

"It has got nothing to do with what is being said," Downing said. "It is absolute rubbish."

Jewish groups had complained to French president Francois Hollande about Dieudonne's trademark gesture, which they described as a "Nazi salute in reverse". They linked it to increasing anti-Semitic remarks and acts in France.

In return Dieudonne has threatened to sue the groups for calling it a Nazi salute. He calls it "la quenelle" - a word for a fish dumpling - and says it stands for his anti-Zionist and anti-establishment views, rather than anti-Semitism.

Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out said it was in contact with partners in England and France over the Anelka incident and offered support to the Football Association in its inquiries.

Former France international Anelka scored his first two goals for the club in Saturday's draw with the Hammers. He had not played since the 4-1 defeat by former club Liverpool on 26 October.

[Buzzo]

I have never heard of the inverted Nazi salute...??? The Quinelle? WTF?

[RichC]

Neither have I tbh.

[Buzzo]

Anelka certainly seems an unlikely supporter of any Nazi ideology. I suspect we about to be launched into a media frenzy.

[RichC]

Reading about it now it's certainly caused some uproar and rightly so if it is a anti Semitic gesture.

I don't know anything of the guy Dieudonné who it's attributed to though

From the guardian

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."

[Buzzo]

Yeah - that sounds bad. Wonder if Anelka was fully aware, but no excuses you should not support any symbolism that mocks the Haulocaust.

Hopefully the FA handle this more swiftly and with more rationale than they have been known to in the past.

Anelka needs to explain himself more clearly here.

[dom9]

Well, it gives the newspapers another opportunity to express their self righteousness and moral superiority, not to mention expertise in such matters.

[Boogs]

Well he will be getting the same ban as Suarez did for the Evra incident. Ignorance isn't innocence or something like that.....
This might see him retire if he gets a ban. Hasnt he already walked earlier this year but was talked back to the club?

[Chazza]

Sunday Supplement journos were calling for a 10 game ban.

[Gray]

Shows my ignorance, I thought it was a homage to James Herriot.