FA charges Anelka over gesture

West Brom's Nicolas Anelka faces a minimum five-match ban if found guilty by the Football Association of making the controversial "quenelle" gesture. The striker made the sign, described as an inverted Nazi salute, after scoring against West Ham on 28 December. Anelka was given a 34-page document detailing the allegations and has until 18:00 GMT on Thursday to respond. West Brom sponsor Zoopla will end its agreement with the club at the end of the season because of the incident. e former France international used the "quenelle" the day after the French government announced it was trying to ban the shows of controversial comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala's, who is a friend of Anelka's and uses the gesture as a trademark. France's Sport Minster Valerie Fourneyron accused Anelka of a "shocking and disgusting" act, saying "there was no place for anti-Semitism on the football field."