It's a pity Kirsty Gallacher wasn't there to tell us that Anelka retiring is a great thing for the English game.
Anelka at West Brom | Sleeve Touching/Homage/Hate Swipe Controversy
- Thread starter Jippy
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Congratulations. You've passed the examination to qualify as a Sky sports journalist. When can you start?
did seem a crazy story, walking out 1 game in.
this sounds a lot more reasonable now!
this sounds a lot more reasonable now!
So it was true in a way.
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/a...olas-anelka-has-threatened-to-quit-football/?
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/a...olas-anelka-has-threatened-to-quit-football/?
From the beeb...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23808867
Nicolas Anelka has told West Brom he could retire following the death of his agent, but manager Steve Clarke hopes the striker will return to action.
The summer signing will sit out Saturday's game at Everton after being given compassionate leave.
When asked if the 34-year-old said he planned to quit, Clarke said: "I'm not going to deny that he used that word.
Anelka's Premier League clubs
Following the news that Eric Manasse had died, the much-travelled Anelka said on his Facebook page: "I cannot find the words to express my sadness."
Clarke revealed the 69-times capped France international left training on Thursday after conversations with himself and technical director Richard Garlick.
"Nicolas went to Richard on Thursday and indicated that he wasn't in a good place," the Scot said.
"I went in and had a very brief chat with him, and he wasn't in a good place. So the club have decided just to give him a bit of time to go away and think about it and get himself in a better place for the future.
"That is as much as there is to tell on the situation. It wasn't dramatic, there was no big bust-up, he didn't storm out of the training ground. It is just a boy who is really quite upset."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23808867
Nicolas Anelka has told West Brom he could retire following the death of his agent, but manager Steve Clarke hopes the striker will return to action.
The summer signing will sit out Saturday's game at Everton after being given compassionate leave.
When asked if the 34-year-old said he planned to quit, Clarke said: "I'm not going to deny that he used that word.
Anelka's Premier League clubs
- Arsenal (1997-99): Played 74, Goals 28
- Liverpool (2001-02): P15, G5
- Man City (2002-05): P101, G46
- Bolton (2006-08): P58, G23
- Chelsea (2008-12): P146, G59
- West Brom (2013): P1 G0
Following the news that Eric Manasse had died, the much-travelled Anelka said on his Facebook page: "I cannot find the words to express my sadness."
Clarke revealed the 69-times capped France international left training on Thursday after conversations with himself and technical director Richard Garlick.
"Nicolas went to Richard on Thursday and indicated that he wasn't in a good place," the Scot said.
"I went in and had a very brief chat with him, and he wasn't in a good place. So the club have decided just to give him a bit of time to go away and think about it and get himself in a better place for the future.
"That is as much as there is to tell on the situation. It wasn't dramatic, there was no big bust-up, he didn't storm out of the training ground. It is just a boy who is really quite upset."
Wba lost another sponsor, Anelka will face at least 5 match ban.
It's a shame, there's no freedom of expression
Viva Dieudonne and Anelka
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...anced-himself-from-Dieudonne-Mbala-Mbala.html
It's a shame, there's no freedom of expression
Viva Dieudonne and Anelka
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...anced-himself-from-Dieudonne-Mbala-Mbala.html
Word. For me Anelka is a hero.
It's not really an issue of freedom of expression. If I went round in my job promoting personal political beliefs (even totally benign ones) then I would get into disciplinary trouble too.
This. The choice is between fighting all forms of racism in football, or giving up altogether. Being selective will never work.
And please do not try to argue that Dieudonne is not racist. He is even not trying to hide it. If Anelka wants to support him, well he can spend a few games on the sidelines. The same would, and should, happen to a player who decides to support someone like David Duke.
Why bump this thread? Just start a new one.
Some shameful shit in this thread.
At least change the thread title or make a new one.
For real? That must be why most clubs put Poppys on their shirts and have soldiers leading out the teams several times a year and at major finals.
Pick and mix bollocks as per usual. Politics is fine in sport as long as yours matches the general consensus. Go outside that and you get lambasted by the gutter press, the FA, the clubs and idiot fans.
Got offered comment on this on Monday. Bit odd given I edit a finance mag...I have seen the chap quoted a fair bit on the issue though.
The thread title was misleading me this morning so I've changed it to reflect the current situation.
There's a difference between individual players making their own (highly controversial) political statements on the pitch and football clubs, the PL and the FA getting together to unanimously agree on a gesture to pay respect to an official public day of remembrance.
Free speech doesn't mean you are guaranteed to exercise it on every single platform.
The poppy, rightly or wrongly, isn't considered a political symbol. And businesses can make their own political representations if they wish, but individual employees cannot make their own personal political points while representing their organisation. That's the norm everywhere.
To be fair, if whatever twat who leads the EDL these days did something, and a player flashed a t-shirt showing his support for him or somthing, that player would - rightly - face heavy scrutiny, bannings, fines etc. etc.
Just 'cos it's "something to do with France" doesn't make it alright.
Just 'cos it's "something to do with France" doesn't make it alright.
In his role as an employee he isn't guaranteed the right to do whatever he wants with no repercussions. If he wants to make racist gestures then he shouldn't be surprised when they choose to disassociate themselves with him.
Indeed - Nor should it.
It does it many counties, it just doesn't apply to the standards that companies hold their employees to.
I'm not talking about the individual Anelka incident. If that was a racist gesture (I don't know enough to say) then that's OK. I was talking about Mike's general point about politics in football.
The Poppy is hugely political and to say otherwise is talking out of your arse big time. When someone or a team refuses to wear it it's certainly a political issue then.
Edit: Also having the army regularly politicised football. Again, you can't say this is perfect and then deny someone their own harmless political view.
The Poppy is hugely political and to say otherwise is talking out of your arse big time. When someone or a team refuses to wear it it's certainly a political issue then.
Edit: Also having the army regularly politicised football. Again, you can't say this is perfect and then deny someone their own harmless political view.
My point wasn't specific to football, I was referring employees in any industry. You can't promote personal political positions while representing a company.
I personally think that the poppy is clearly political, but it isn't considered to be so by most people.
But once again, if a company decides to promote a political cause then that's their right. Individual employees generally aren't allowed to promote their own beliefs on their company's time or reputation.
Why is he a hero? What does the gesture mean to you and why do you think it was important for Anelka to make it?
Then likewise the company shouldn't engage in politics of it's own and expect you to participate.
Was the American Olympic organisation right to strip the Black Panther lads of their medals?
Again, I haven't looked into it at all and fully accept I know nothing about it, but Kouroux seems to thing it's nothing like what's being made out.
You're general point is true, there's no denying that the poppy question is political - if it wasn't to start with it certainly became political by the very nature of the debate.
But this is a totally separate point to the Anelka incident. I don't think you should deny someone their own harmless political view, but I do think you should deny them the chance to promote racism.
I don't know about every country by any means, but certainly in the UK and EU racism in any form is illegal.
Saying racist things is not illegal in the US or Canada, nor should it be.
I 110% agree. I already said I know nothing about this gesture and if it's a racist gesture then he should be heavily punished. No place for that in the game whatsoever.
You might have a point on the poppy being a political gesture (IMO, like Mike, I think it is.. albeit in a very different way to Anelka's salute), but the army having a ceremonial role in cup finals is hardly significantly political. It's no more political than having an English/UK flag in the stadium, or a representative of government attending as guest of the FA.
Why? Surely they must have some form of incitement laws they can prosecute under?
Antisemitism isn't racism...let's get that out of the way.
Whatever Anelka's intentions were, doing it in a high profile league with the connotations the gesture has in some places was naive and stupid.
Whatever Anelka's intentions were, doing it in a high profile league with the connotations the gesture has in some places was naive and stupid.
My point isn't that those things are wrong rednev. I fully accept that if football wants to be political it can be. I personally don't like seeing the army being present at football finals because it's just another form of glorification of what they do and an effort to trick working class kids into thinking it's something great, but that's a personal opinion and I accept I'm probably massively in the minority. What grinds my gears is when an individual decides to go against the norm whilst doing nothing racist and gets slated for it.
It's very very closely related though and for the purpose of this debate close enough imo.
They do, but the prosecution need to demonstrate that the speech was likely to incite others to do violent acts. This is a higher bar than racist speech.
In any case the point is moot, since no one suggest to prosecute Anelka in court. Even in the US professional organization have regulations that can use to punish racist speech. The NBA would surely fine and possibly ban athletes who promote racism.
What are you on about?
So you're homophobic AND racist? Probably should've expected it.
Stop being so menstrual and join the love in the mata thread