Anelka 'agrees not to repeat quenelle salute'

French striker Nicolas Anelka has agreed not to perform the controversial 'quenelle' salute that has been linked with anti-Semitism, his club West Bromwich Albion announced on Monday. Anelka, 34, sparked a media storm on Saturday when he celebrated the first of his two goals in the 3-3 draw at West Ham United by putting one arm across his chest and straightening the other. The gesture, popularised by French comedian Dieudonne, has been described by critics in France as an 'inverted Nazi salute', but Anelka insisted it was merely "a dedication" to the comic. However, with England's Football Association having launched an investigation into the matter, West Brom have asked Anelka not to repeat the gesture. "Upon reporting for training this morning (Monday), Nicolas was asked by sporting and technical director Richard Garlick to give a full explanation about his goal celebration during which he again strongly denied intending to cause offence," read a statement published on the club website. "The club fully acknowledges that Nicolas's goal celebration has caused offence in some quarters and has asked Nicolas not to perform the gesture again. Nicolas immediately agreed to adhere to this request." Dieudonne, whose full name is Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, has been fined seven times for defamation, insult, hate speech and for racial discrimination. On Monday, prosecutors in Paris launched a probe to ascertain whether he was guilty of inciting racial hatred when he mentioned the "gas chambers" in reference to a Jewish journalist during a performance on December 19. Dieudonne maintains that he is not anti-Jewish and Anelka said that he considered the 'quenelle' gesture to be "anti-establishment" rather than anti-Semitic. "I do not know what religion has to do with this story," he wrote on Twitter on Sunday. "I ask people not to be duped by the media. And of course I am neither anti-Semite nor racist." French sports minister Valerie Fourneyron condemned the gesture as "shocking" and "sickening", while the European Jewish Congress called for Anelka to face the same punishment that would be handed down for a Nazi salute. West Brom said it had offered its "full cooperation" to the FA and would continue "to make its own inquiries", but that Anelka would "remain under consideration for first-team selection". Under new anti-discriminatory rules introduced in May, Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban if the FA decides he is guilty of discrimination. Source: AFP