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West Bromwich Albion terminate contract with striker Nicolas Anelka

Published

10 years ago

March 15, 2014

West Bromwich Albion have terminated the contract of striker
Nicolas Anelka, following a day of bizarre twists and turns in the
confusing tale surrounding the maverick French striker.
Anelka’s future at West Brom has been under a cloud since he was
handed a five-game suspension by Football Association chiefs for his
controversial ‘quenelle’ goal celebration at West Ham in December
The striker and his advisers had been in discussions with West Brom
over his possible return to the club in the last couple of days, but those
discussions appeared to have broken down when Anelka announced on
Twitter he was leaving the Baggies earlier on Friday.
West Brom responded by initially suggesting his actions were
‘unprofessional’, before they announced on Friday evening that
Anelka had played his last game for the club.
“Further to the statement issued earlier this evening, the Club notes
Nicolas Anelka is unwilling to agree to the conditions set by it which
may have enabled his suspension to be lifted and for him to resume
training,” read a West Brom statement.
“These conditions were, firstly, that 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
December 28 and secondly, that he accept a substantial fine.
“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.”
Earlier, Anelka had claimed he was walking away from West
Brom in any case, as he failed to agree to the club’s ultimatums later
confirmed in their statement.
“Following talks between the club and me, propositions were made to
me in order to reintegrate me into the squad under certain conditions
that I cannot accept,” he wrote on Twitter in French.
“Wishing to retain my integrity, I have therefore taken the decision
to free myself and put an end to the contract linking me with West
Bromwich Albion to 2014, with immediate effect.”
These latest developments bring to an end one of the more complex
disciplinary cases English football has faced in recent years, with
Anelka’s future in the game now very much in doubt as he looks for
what would be his 13th different club at the age of 35.