The French comedian at the centre of the Nicolas Anelka anti-semitism row has been banned from travelling to London to support the football star, the Home Office announced today.
Dieudonne M’bala M’bala had said he would come to the capital to back Anelka in his battle to avoid an FA ban for using the comic’s “quenelle” salute during a Premier League match.
But Home Secretary Theresa May has now intervened to prevent him by imposing an exclusion order on the comic, which bars him from entering the UK.
The Home Office said it was imposed because “there are public policy or public security reasons to do so.”
The quenelle gesture is regarded by critics as an anti-semitic inverted Nazi salute, but was used by Anelka during a game for West Brom with West Ham on December 28 in what the former Arsenal striker said was a sign of support for his friend.
The Football Association has since charged Anelka over the pose, leaving him facing a minimum five-match ban if found guilty. Anelka has denied the charge, claiming that he had no racist intent.
Dieudonne, 47, who has been prosecuted for inciting racial hatred through anti-Semitic jokes and comments, has previously said the gesture is anti-establishment, but had several shows banned in France last month amid fears his mocking of the Holocaust were a risk to public order.
Anelka did not play yesterday against Liverpool due to injury. West Brom’s sponsors Zoopla withdrew, but new West Brom boss Pepe Mel has indicated he intends to keep selecting him.
