OSG Prem: I Quit, No, You're Fired...

((HT: SkySports))

Nicolas Anelka, it cannot be debated, that when he's on... he's on...

A tremendous scorer who can also be a tremendous headache...

Evidenced by his short-lived time at West Brom... after a move on a scored goal in late December, his time was even shorter-lived...

BBC Newsnight caught up with David Baddiel about the "quenelle" salute Anelka gave...


And, then, caught up with Dieudonne himself back in February...


West Brom gave conditions for his reinstatement- which were later revealed to be an apology to everyone and accept a fine.

Anelka then took to his Twitter account to announce he was leaving and terminating his contract on his own "with immediate effect."

The club, then, decided it wasn't Anelka's move to make and sacked him...

Their statement:

"Nicolas Anelka's purported termination of his Premier League contract this evening via Social Media was invalid as this was not conducted under the correct legal process as required by his contract.

"The club considers the conduct of Nicolas Anelka on December 28, coupled with his purported termination on Social Media this evening, to be gross misconduct.

"As a result the club has tonight written to Nicolas Anelka giving him 14 days' notice of termination as required under his contract."

West Brom, as a footnote, picked up a major three points in a win at Swansea to get a little further away from relegation...

OSG Prem: Yep, Zoopla Is Done With West Brom

((HT: Sky Sports))

And this news comes hours before their Monday night match-up against Everton...

Against West Ham, Anelka celebrated by using a "quenelle" gesture- what is regarded as an inverted Nazi salute. Anelka responded by saying it was a tribute to French comedian Dieudonne, who has been arrested half-a-dozen times for hate speech against Jews.


Zoopla said, in a statement, that it had been "reviewing its position over the past few weeks in light of the actions of striker, Nicolas Anelka, during the match against West Ham over the Christmas period and has decided to focus its attention on other marketing activities after this season."

Zoopla is owned by Alex Chesterman, who is Jewish, and they had given West Brom their largest kit deal in history. The deal was set to end after this season. The firm just confirms it now and word is that any kit Anelka wears must not have the Zoopla logo on its front...

The game with Everton should be interesting...

OSG Prem: West Brom Main Sponsor May Pull Over Anelka Flap

It all started over this salute-slash-tribute by West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka...

At West Ham on Boxing Day, he made a 'quenelle' gesture which some French politicians have associated with anti-Semitism...


Anelka claimed it was a tribute to a stand-up comedian friend of his, Dieudonne...

Now the sponsor on the front of the West Brom kit, Zoopla, may pull out of their sponsorship if Anelka plays Monday. The company is owned by Alex Westerman, who is Jewish. A Marketing Week article by Sebastian Joseph says the company will pull out "with immediate effect" if Anelka is still around.

From Joseph:

It is likely Anelka will face the Merseyside side club next week, however, with one source close to the matter claiming the club is not prepared to let sponsors dictate its team selection. West Brom are believed to have already made early inquires into securing a temporary sponsor for the remainder of the season should Zoopla act on its threat. The property firm’s two-year deal with the club ends this season and the club is “confident’ of being able to find a new long-term backer given the League’s growing popularity, according to the source.

The Football Association is still looking into the move by Anelka...