Anti-racism group Kick It Out and Jewish communal organisations have urged the Football Association to appeal the five-match ban against Nicolas Anelka, calling the decision to give the player only the minimum penalty “illogical” “baffling” and “contradictory”.
Kick It Out Chairman Lord Ouseley in particular criticised the ruling as “inexplicable”, saying that the evidence heard at the independent tribunal was not “compatible with the outcome”.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Lord Ouseley said: “His gesture was [aimed] at a whole community, as opposed to an individual. He’s having a go at every Jewish person, knowingly or unknowingly.”
Kick It Out, the Community Security Trust and the Board of Deputies say the ban should be increased from five to 10 games in line with a recent decision by Europe’s football governing body, Uefa. The 10-match ban is the minimum sentence for racism or discrimination-based offences under Uefa regulations.
