
Nicolas Anelka celebrates his first goal against West Ham at Upton Park on December 28 2013
Anelka could face punishment if his actions can be shown to be offensive, insulting, abusive or political.
The signal, popularised by French comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala, has been described as a reverse Nazi salute and is widely seen as being anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli. Dieudonne claims it is anti-establishment and not aimed at Jews.
Dieudonne - who originally started out as a left-wing activist but has since aligned himself with far-right parties associated with France's Front National, and some Islamist organisations - has been convicted for making anti-semitic remarks on six occasions, and in 2008 was fined 7,000 euros for describing Holocaust remembrance as "memorial pornography".
Anelka knew what he was doing and has previously been pictured making the gesture with the comedian.













Comment: Is a new revolution quietly brewing in France?