UEFA: 10-game suspension for a Belgian futsal player after a "quenelle"

The Belgian international futsal player Omar Rahu, was suspended for 10 games by the discipline committee of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) on 04/03/2014. UEFA opened an investigation against him following his celebration of a goal with a "quenelle" during the match Belgium-Romania (1-6) in the first round of the European Futsal Championship in Antwerp (BEL) on 28/01/2014.

According to UEFA, the "quenelle" (one arm stretched down, the other bent at shoulder height) is an act with discriminatory connotations and they therefore decided to suspend Omar Rahu under Article 14, regulations determining disciplinary sanctions for "racism, other discriminatory behavior and propaganda." The penalty will apply to matches of the Belgian national team as well as European matches for Châtelineau, the club that Rahu plays for.

A suspension of 10 matches is the minimum penalty under section 14 for conduct that "undermines the dignity of a person or group of persons, by any means whatsoever, because of their skin colour, race, religion or ethnic origin. "

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