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Nicolas Anelka was banned for five games by the English FA on Thursday (February 27th) following an offensive gesture after scoring for West Brom in their 3-3 draw at West Ham in December 2013.

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West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka has been banned for five games by the English Football Association after being found guilty of causing racial offence with a goal celebration during a Premier League match.

But the FA disciplinary panel backed Anelka's insistence that he was not promoting anti-Semitism by performing the gesture, which is known in France as a "quenelle" and has been described as an "inverted Nazi salute."

The panel found Anelka guilty of two charges.

The FA commission said: "The misconduct was an `aggravated breach' ... in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief,"
The commission, which heard the case this week, decided the former France international should miss five games. He was also fined 80,000 pounds and ordered to complete an education course.

The sanction won't take effect until Anelka decides whether to appeal within seven days of receiving the commission's written reasons.

Anelka performed the gesture as he celebrated scoring in West Brom's 3-3 draw with West Ham on Dec. 28.