The Observer - 16 March 2014 - 15
West Brom sack Anelka for ‘gross misconduct’
W
est Brom are sacking Nicolas
Anelka for gross misconduct
after the striker announced
he was quitting the club.
Anelka wrote on social media he was
leaving with “immediate effect” after failing
to reconcile differences with Albion over his
‘quenelle’ gesture.
The Frenchman, 35, was banned for five
games and fined £80,000 by the Football
Association for making the sign after scoring
against West Ham in December.
The club is sacking him for his conduct
that day and his social media outburst.
They have given him 14 days’ notice of the
termination of his contract.
He had been suspended by Albion while the
club carried out its own internal investigation.
Earlier on Friday, Anelka used social
media to announce he was leaving the club
immediately.
He wrote: “Following discussions between
the club and myself, certain conditions have
been set for me to rejoin the group, which I
can’t accept.
“In order to preserve my integrity, I’ve
terminated my contract with West Brom with
immediate effect.”
However, West Brom responded by
releasing a statement saying “the termination
was invalid as it was not conducted under the
correct legal process”.
The statement also detailed the conditions
Anelka needed to meet to enable his club
suspension to be lifted.
It read: “The club required Nicolas Anelka
to apologise to it, its supporters, sponsors
and the wider community for the impact
and consequences of his gesture made on
Amir Khan open to Floyd
Mayweather undercard challenge
Li Na beaten by
Flavia Pennetta
in semi-final
F
F
ormer world champion Amir Khan says
he is ready to be on Floyd Mayweather’s
undercard in Las Vegas, but is unsure
about his potentiaal opponent.
Mayweather, considered the world’s best poundfor-pound boxer, fights 30-year-old Argentine
Marcos Maidana in May.
Briton Khan, 27, thought he was in line for the
welterweight unification bout, only for Mayweather
to choose Maidana.
“I think it might be a good idea to fight on his
undercard as chief support,” Khan told BBC Radio
5 Live.
“Being in front of his face is kind of good because
Floyd will always see me, plus he knows that he
should have been fighting me instead of Maidana.”
After winning a fans’ poll to decide Mayweather’s
next opponent, Khan signed a deal in December
that he hoped would lead to a showdown with the
10-time world champion, who holds world titles at
welterweight and light-middleweight.
However, Mayweather opted to take on Maidana,
who Khan beat unanimously on points in 2010.
Mayweather then told Khan he would agree to
a fight if he defeated 24-year-old American Adrien
Broner on the undercard of his Maidana bout - but
Khan says Broner has rejected the match-up.
Although it remains unclear who Khan’s opponent
at the MGM Arena would be, the 2004 Olympic
silver medallist is confident ahead of what would be
a first fight since his victory over Julio Diaz in April
2013 - and a bout with Mayweather remains the longterm ambition.
“We put the fight to Broner - they don’t want it so what do we do? Boxing’s a funny business.
“It’s not been confirmed fully just yet who we’re
going to fight.
“Floyd Mayweather is probably the best fighter in
our era but as he’s getting older I think he’s trying to
avoid the guys who have hand speed and are quick
and explosive. Maidana, I’ve already beaten him.
“I’m still young, hungry and whoever it is on 3
May - which I think will be fight day for me - will be
in lot of trouble because I’ve been out of the ring for
such a long time.” ■
December 28 and secondly, that he accept a
substantial fine.
“The club considers the conduct of Nicolas
Anelka on December 28, coupled with his
purported termination on social media, to be
gross misconduct.”
The striker, who joined Albion in the
summer on a 12-month deal, would only
have been eligible to play in Albion’s final five
Premier League games due to his ban.
But with his West Brom career now over,
he made