1. But Is THIS The Worst Of The Lot? Nicolas Anelka (vs West Ham, 2013)
The fallout from Nicolas Anelka's goal celebration in December 2013 continues with the West Brom man set to be clobbered with a ban later this week. Anelka performed the contentious 'quenelle' gesture after scoring against West Ham last month and quickly ended up in hot water with Albion's sponsors Zoopla severing ties with the club as a result. But what is the quenelle gesture? Critics liken it to a Nazi salute and it bears similarities, with the outstretched arm, and some have even been spotted posing with the symbol at the Auschwitz death camp. Considered anti-Semitic and racist, some describe it as a combination of the 'bras d'honneur' with a bent arm (which means "up yours") and the Nazi salute. The gesture is a trademark of the highly-controversial French comedian M'Bala M'Bala, who first made the symbol at an anti-Zionist campaign. Anelka has been slaughtered for replicating this gesture, and having cost his club a £3 million partnership with Zoopla, is now fighting against calls to be kicked out of football.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
