The FA is to investigate an alleged anti-Semitic gesture made by West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka during the 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham United.
The former France striker celebrated the first of his two goals against West Ham with an apparent "quenelle" hand signal, made famous by French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, which is linked to anti-Semitism.
"Anelka's gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting," French Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron said on Twitter. "There's no place for anti-Semitism on the football field."
The former Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain striker tried to play down the incident. "This gesture was a special dedication to my friend Dieudonne," Anelka said on Twitter.
Anelka's gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting. There's no place for anti-Semitism on the football field
The 34-year-old was backed by West Brom caretaker coach Keith Downing. "It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well," said Downing. "I think speculation can be stopped now, it is absolute rubbish really. He is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around, he is totally surprised by it."