Anelka to fight FA charge

West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka has declared his intention to fight against the Football Association charge for his “quenelle” gesture.

Anelka, 34, has until today to officially respond to the charge that follows his goal celebration in the match against West Ham United on Dec. 28.

The “quenelle” has been described as anti-Semitic and Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban if found guilty of making “a gesture which was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper.” The FA further alleges that it is an “aggravated breach” of its laws in that the gesture “included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief.”

The FA arrived at its decision to charge the former France international after appointing an expert and conducting a lengthy investigation, but Anelka -- who has maintained that his gesture was purely anti-establishment and had no religious intent -- has taken to Facebook to announce that he does not accept the charge.

He wrote, “The English Football Association has hired an expert to decide the meaning of my ‘quenelle,’ who concluded that my gesture had an anti-Semitic connotation, which led to my charge by the FA. 

“It would have been more legitimate for this expert to be French, living in France, who would have an accurate knowledge of my actions. 

“What better expert than Mr Cukierman, president of CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France), who explains very clearly that my ‘quenelle’ could not be regarded as anti-Semitic!” 

ESPN