Property and house prices website Zoopla is reported to have issued an ultimatum to West Bromwich Albion, threatening to withdraw its shirt sponsorship of the English Premier League football team if it selects Nicolas Anelka for tonight’s match against Everton.
Anelka is the subject of an on-going Football Association investigation after he made the alleged anti-Semetic ‘quenelle’ salute to celebrate a goal in West Brom’s 3-3 draw against West Ham United on December 28. The 34-year-old former France international has played every match since despite the prospect of a lengthy ban. However, the Marketing Week website said Zoopla – which is co-owned by Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman – is ready to withdraw from its £3m (€3.5m/$4.8m) deal if Anelka features in tonight’s game.
Both Zoopla and West Brom declined to make any official comment when contacted by the Press Association Sport news agency, but Marketing Week claims the club is “confident” of finding a new long-term backer. Zoopla’s two-year deal is set to expire at the end of the ongoing 2013-14 season, while inquiries into securing a temporary partner should the property website act are believed to have been made. West Brom is understood to be ready to pick Anelka against Everton.
Anelka claimed that the salute was done as a tribute to controversial French comedian and friend Dieudonne, who invented the gesture, promising not to repeat his actions but stopping short of an apology.
Against a backdrop of condemnation in Anelka’s homeland and anti-racist and Jewish groups in England, the FA has been criticised for failing to take swift action. Anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out has asked for “an urgent decision” and decried the FA’s initial silence on the matter. The FA has so far made no comment other than to confirm an independent expert was aiding its investigations and that it would offer an update no earlier than today (January 20) – leaving the prospect of sanctions against Anelka ahead of West Brom and Everton’s 8pm (GMT) clash.