UEFA probe Belgian player over 'quenelle' salute

BRUSSELS, Jan 31, 2014 - European governing body UEFA have opened a probe into Belgian player Omar Rahou's 'quenelle' salute during a match at the European futsal championship in Antwerp, the Belgian football federation confirmed on Friday.

"It's mainly UEFA who will deal with this affair," federation spokesman Stefan van Lock said on the sidelines of the tournament which runs until February 8.

Rahou, 21, scored the only goal for Belgium during their 6-1 defeat to Romania and celebrated his goal with the 'quenelle', an allegedly anti-Semitic salute.

"On our side, we're going to speak with the player to try and determine to what extent he made this gesture voluntarily, knowingly," said van Lock.

The 'quenelle' salute, putting one arm across the chest and straightening the other, popularised by French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, has been described by critics in France as an anti-Semitic inverted Nazi salute.

French striker Nicolas Anelka has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for making the gesture during West Bromwich Albion's 3-3 draw at West Ham United in the Premier League in December.