Anelka calls on English FA to drop race charge

LONDON — A statement on Nicolas Anelka’s Facebook page quotes the West Bromwich Albion striker as challenging the English Football Association’s charge for a racially aggravated gesture.

Anelka wrote: “I ask the English FA to kindly lift the charges alleged against me. And I repeat, I am not anti-Semitic or racist.”

He was charged on Tuesday by the association for performing a gesture considered to be anti-Semitic while celebrating a goal. Anelka then used his Twitter account to link to an online video from a French Jewish leader who said the player shouldn’t be punished.

Roger Cukierman, president of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions, said it was a “gesture of rebellion”. Anelka on Wednesday said Cukierman is the “best expert” to the gesture’s meaning.

.col-lg-12.second .opinion-widget{border-top:1px solid #D0D0D0;} #widget_1623 .opinions-title {font-size:32px;}

{{articles_filter_1623_widget?.title}}

.epaper-separator{ height: 1px; width: 100%; background-color: #D0D0D0; margin: 15px 0; }

Today’s Paper

.related-articles .layout-ratio{padding-bottom:55%;}
.alert-success { color :#A3656F ; } .alert-danger { color : red ; } .footer { font-family:Myriad Pro,Arial; }
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { function validateEmail(email) { return /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/.test(email); } function showModal(message,type) { const messageContainer = document.getElementById("messageContainerFooter"); messageContainer.textContent = message; messageContainer.className = `alert alert-${type} mt-3`; // Bootstrap alert styling messageContainer.classList.remove("d-none"); // Hide message after 5 seconds setTimeout(() => { messageContainer.classList.add("d-none"); }, 5000); } document.getElementById("emailFormFooter").addEventListener("submit", function(event) { event.preventDefault(); const emailInput = document.getElementById("emailFooter"); const email = emailInput.value.trim(); if (!validateEmail(email)) { showModal('Invalid email format','danger'); return; } const url = `/subscribeNewsletter?email=${encodeURIComponent(email)}`; fetch(url, { method: "GET", headers: { "Accept": "application/json" } }) .then(response => { if (!response.ok) { showModal("Error submitting email. Try again.",'danger'); } return response.json(); }) .then(data => { showModal(data.message,'success'); }) .catch(error => { showModal("Error submitting email. Try again.",'danger'); }); }); });