The French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala has been banned from entering the UK, according to the UK Home Office.
Diedonne is at the centre of a row over the controversial ‘quenelle’ gesture that Nicolas Anelka performed while playing for West Brom in a Premier League game against West Ham on December 28. The gesture is associated with anti-Semitism by many and Anelka faces a minimum of a 5 game ban for performing it.
The comedian has been banned from entering the UK following his announcement he would travel to support Anelka during the striker's FA disciplinary hearing. The Home Office has told airlines and border officials that Dieudonne is an “excluded” individual. There is a threat of a £10,000 fine for any transport company who brings Mr. Dieudonne to the UK.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that Mr Dieudonne is subject to an exclusion order.
“The Home Secretary will seek to exclude an individual from the UK if she considers that there are public policy orpublic security reasons to do so.”
Dieudonne has had several shows banned by the French government due to his portrayal of Jews. He subsequently rewrote some of his material.
Anelka has insisted the salute was an “anti-establishment” gesture and not racist or anti-Semitic.
