Hull City footballer fined for quenelle

A French footballer playing for Hull City has been fined £15,000 for posting a message of support for compatriot Nicolas Anelka, after the former West Brom striker performed the controversial quenelle gesture at a game in December.

The Football Association slapped Marseilles-born Ivory Coast international Yannick Sagbo (pictured) with the penalty on Tuesday after he admitted making comments that were “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper”.

He was also ordered to attend a “compulsory education course”. It comes after Sagbo posted support for Anelka’s use of the gesture, which was invented by Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, a French comedian who has multiple convictions for inciting hatred against Jews.

Anelka was subsequently banned for five games and hit with a fine of £80,000, but before he could see out the suspension the striker was sacked by his club. The decision on Sagbo was made by the Independent Regulatory Commission.

Both the FA and player have the right to appeal the decision.