Quenelle

[Doobs]

TBF Talksport handled it really well. The French journo they had on refused to even mention his name as he didn't want to give him publicity.

He's just been charged:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25823368

It doesn't sound like very balanced coverage on the face of it.

How do you give a balanced view to such a story?

But anyway, perhaps this balances it out (Anelka fights back and the plot thickens):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25845493

Most of the things I have read suggest it is an anti-authoritarian gesture that has been used in an anti-semetic context.  Getting an "expert" in who is so incensed that he can't even mention Anelka by name doesn't really sound like a sensible way of discussing it.  It feels a bit like the St George's flag to me.  You put that in your window, you aren't necessarily a racist...

Give the man his hearing, as it doesn't appear cut and dried to me. 

[Acidmouse]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25835984

Please watch this, David Baddiel makes a few good points.

[luther101]

Everyone getting their knickers in a twist because some daft French football player points at a lump of turf.

Is it an anti-establishment gesture?       ......       I haven't a clue!

Is it an anti Jewish gesture? ......       I haven't a clue!

Only Mr Anelka knows really that.

Are innocent people getting butchered in Iraq, Egypt, the Congo, Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia etc etc?     ......        Yup, I'm pretty sure of that!

You could bet your bottom dollar that the benders at the FA would have crucified the fellah by now if he'd been employed by mere Football League club. It's funny how they appear to enter a catatonic stupor whenever confronting a 'Prembore issue'. They are symptomatic of what pervades all walks of life in 'Modern Britain' today    ......     pure unadulterated hypocrisy.

There are far more serious things going on around the world that the pompous might do better to concentrate their angst on, than a footballer with half a brain cell.

[rfgqqabc]

Everyone getting their knickers in a twist because some daft French football player points at a lump of turf.

Is it an anti-establishment gesture?       ......       I haven't a clue!

Is it an anti Jewish gesture? ......       I haven't a clue!

Only Mr Anelka knows really that.

Are innocent people getting butchered in Iraq, Egypt, the Congo, Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia etc etc?     ......        Yup, I'm pretty sure of that!

You could bet your bottom dollar that the benders at the FA would have crucified the fellah by now if he'd been employed by mere Football League club. It's funny how they appear to enter a catatonic stupor whenever confronting a 'Prembore issue'. They are symptomatic of what pervades all walks of life in 'Modern Britain' today    ......     pure unadulterated hypocrisy.

There are far more serious things going on around the world that the pompous might do better to concentrate their angst on, than a footballer with half a brain cell.

I doubt anyone would have noticed if it had happened in the football league. Not cultured enough, you see?

[luther101]

Everyone getting their knickers in a twist because some daft French football player points at a lump of turf.

Is it an anti-establishment gesture?       ......       I haven't a clue!

Is it an anti Jewish gesture? ......       I haven't a clue!

Only Mr Anelka knows really that.

Are innocent people getting butchered in Iraq, Egypt, the Congo, Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia etc etc?     ......        Yup, I'm pretty sure of that!

You could bet your bottom dollar that the benders at the FA would have crucified the fellah by now if he'd been employed by mere Football League club. It's funny how they appear to enter a catatonic stupor whenever confronting a 'Prembore issue'. They are symptomatic of what pervades all walks of life in 'Modern Britain' today    ......     pure unadulterated hypocrisy.

There are far more serious things going on around the world that the pompous might do better to concentrate their angst on, than a footballer with half a brain cell.

I doubt anyone would have noticed if it had happened in the football league. Not cultured enough, you see?

No-one noticed it in the Prembore either      ......     it was picked up on the other side of the trench by some Frog rag!