Zoopla ends WBA Sponsorship over Anelka gesture

[Chicog]

Methinks the Baggies will be a tad pee'd off with horseface for this one...

Zoopla will bring an early end to its sponsorship of West Brom because of Nicolas Anelka's controversial 'quenelle' gesture.

The striker performed the gesture during a goal celebration against West Ham United on December 28.

A statement from the company said the deal would be cut short at the end of this season. The sponsorship, which began in 2012, was due to run until 2015.

Zoopla was co-founded by American Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman. The deal was worth £3m.

Anelka said the gesture was in support of the comedian who invented it, Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala.

The highly controversial figure has been banned from performing in France because his act, and the gesture, are considered anti-Semitic. He claims it is an anti-establishment gesture, but it has been widely interpreted as a Nazi salute in reverse.

Fans have photographed themselves performing the 'quenelle' outside the Auschwitz concentration camp and Holocaust memorials.

Anelka is set to find out if he will be charged by the Football Association for the celebration. If he is, the Frenchman could face a ban of at least five matches.

His team face Everton in a league match on Monday evening, although it is not yet known whether the 34-year-old will be involved.

There were reports before the home match that Zoopla had asked for Anelka to play in an unbranded shirt, although this was not confirmed by the company.

[BangrakBob]

Abdul-salam bilal is starting tonight so obviously the Baggies are still more concerned about points in football

[wooloomooloo]

I note Anelka is starting against Everton and glad sponsors aren't in charge of picking the starting eleven whatever the allegation.

[wilai]

http://t.co/ieKtiQl3Xy

[BigBadGeordie]

Excellent News

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