Benoit Assou-Ekotto Suspended 3 Matches: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Tottenham star defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who is currently on loan to the Queens Park Rangers, has been suspended for three matches by the English Football Association from a controversial incident last December. 

According to The Associated Press report, via Fox Sports, Assou-Ekotto's suspension is the result of a tweet he sent out in support of a gesture made by former West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka during an English Premier League match last season. 

Anelka celebrated scoring a goal for West Bromwich Albion against West Ham on Dec. 28 by performing a gesture which is known in France as a quenelle and is regarded as anti-Semitic. Assou-Ekotto posted in French on Twitter after the match: ''I congratulate you on the beautiful quenelle.''

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The FA said the comment was ''abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper'' and was a breach of FA rules.

After he made the gesture, Anelka was suspended for five matches and fined £80,000. His contract with West Brom was terminated in March for what the club described as "gross misconduct," after he announced on Twitter that he was terminating his contract with the club via Stuart James of The Guardian.

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 28 December, coupled with his purported termination on Social Media, to be gross misconduct.

Assou-Ekotto denied any accusations that his tweet was meant as supporting racism, saying in April his history with the community is indicative of his anti-racist stance, via BBC Sports:

I would like to reassure the fans of both Tottenham and QPR, along with the football community generally, that I condemn discrimination and racism in any form.

During my seven years as a player at Tottenham, my record of engaging with the diverse local community and my strong stance on anti-racism issues speaks for itself.

I am proud that the work undertaken by my foundation in educating young people has as its cornerstone inclusion and respect for diversity.

Peter Griffiths, Chairman of the Regulatory Commission, said upon delivering the suspension that they were satisfied with Assou-Ekotto's explanation, but he had some understanding of what the gesture was and what it represented, via TheFA.com.

Queens Park Rangers are scheduled to play Stoke City on Saturday. Under the terms of this suspension, Assou-Ekotto will be eligible to return for QPR's October 19 match against Liverpool. The 30-year-old was a part of Cameroon's World Cup team over the summer, where he also stirred up a bit of fuss. 

Tottenham left Assou-Ekotto off its roster for the current Premier League season, loaning him out to QPR. It's been a struggle for the veteran adjusting to his new home and now the suspension isn't likely to bring dramatic improvements.