The Football Association has charged two Premier League footballers with improper conduct relating to the quenelle.

Hull City striker Yannick Sagbo and Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto had both posted messages on Twitter relating to the antisemitic gesture.

Both players are charged under FA rule E3, which relates to the use of social media. It is alleged that they are guilty of an "aggravated breach" because of the quenelle's racist connotations.

The players have until April 8 to respond to the charge.

Sagbo had posted a message on Twitter praising the French striker Nicolas Anelka, who had performed the gesture in a Premier League match last December.

The Hull City player suggested Anelka was a "legend" and appeared to offer support for antisemitic French comedian Dieudonné.

A Hull City spokesman previously told the JC the club would consider Sagbo's behaviour following the conclusion of the Anelka case.

Assou-Ekotto, currently on loan at Championship side QPR, was ordered to remove two tweets by his parent club.

He had posted a message inviting Dieudonné to White Hart Lane and praised the "gorgeous" quenelle.

The FA also issued a formal warning to Manchester City's Samir Nasri. Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho was reminded of his responsibilities.

They had both been pictured performing the quenelle at social gatherings, ahead of Anelka's on-pitch gesture.

Anelka was sacked by West Bromwich Albion for gross misconduct after he was banned for five matches and fined £80,000 by an independent Football Association commission.