AFP/London

Anelka, 34, sparked a media storm on Saturday when he celebrated the first of his two goals in the 3-3 Premier League 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 on Twitter that 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.

Yesterday, 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.

West Brom said it had offered its “full co-operation” 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.

Pictures have also emerged online of two other French players, current internationals Samir Nasri and Mamadou Sakho, performing the gesture.

The photograph of Manchester City midfielder Nasri is thought to have been taken outside City’s training base in November, but he was reportedly unaware of its political connotations.

Sakho tweeted in November that he was “tricked” into striking the pose for a photograph that appeared online.