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Photo courtesy: Constantin Pletosu - Digital Sport


Belgian banned for 10 matches for 'quenelle' gesture

Belgian Omar Rahou has been suspended for 10 matches for making an alleged anti-Semitic 'quenelle' salute at a European championship five-a-side futsal match, UEFA said on Tuesday.

Mar 4, 2014

West Bromwich Albion's French forward Nicolas Anelka was handed a five-match ban and fined £80,000 last month for making the same gesture during a Premier League match in December.
Anelka had claimed the gesture, which has been described as an inverted Nazi salute and has been linked to anti-Semitism, was a tribute to French comedian friend Dieudonne who invented it.
UEFA said Rahou, a 21-year-old forward, made the gesture several times while celebrating a goal during a 6-1 win over Romania in Antwerp in January.

UEFA said its control and disciplinary committee had ruled that Rahou's gesture was in breach of article 14 of its regulations that referred to racism, other discriminatory conduct and propaganda.
The article states that any person who "insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons by whatever means, including on the grounds of skin colour, race, religion or ethnic origin, incurs a suspension lasting at least 10 matches or a specified period of time."
Rahou was given leave to appeal.






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com