Wednesday, 22nd January, 2014
Nicolas Anelka has again defended his use of the 'quenelle' gesture, just hours after being charged by the FA for an 'aggravated breach' of its rules.
The West Bromwich Albion striker is considering his options over the FA charge, and has until 6pm on Thursday to respond.
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Anelka, who insisted he was "neither racist nor anti-semitic" in the days following his gesture last month, has further attempted to clear his actions.
The Frenchman yesterday posted a video on his Twitter feed which showed a prominent Jewish leader in France claiming the quenelle is only anti-semitic when used in certain areas.
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Roger Cukierman, who is the head of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, is shown speaking to Le Figaro in the video and saying: "This [potential punishment] seems a bit harsh to me.
"That gesture can only have an anti-Semitic connotation when performed at a synagogue or a memorial to Holocaust victims.
"In a place that has no significance for Jews it is merely an anti-establishment gesture which I feel does not warrant any harsh sanction."
Anelka's gesture had prompted criticism from France, especially from the country's sports minister Valerie Fourneyron.
However, Anelka had claimed previously the quenelle was in tribute to his friend and French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, who is himself facing bans in France for using the gesture.
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