West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka contests FA's 'quenelle' charge

West Bromwich Albion footballer Nicolas Anelka is to contest the Football Association's decision to charge him over the antisemitic quenelle gesture.

The France striker used his Facebook page to state that he was "neither antisemitic or racist" and to challenge the allegations against him.

He referred to the comments of Roger Cukierman, president of the French Jewish umbrella body Crif, who had earlier attempted to downplay the issue and who said the charges against Anelka were "harsh".

The FA charged Anelka on Tuesday, claiming the gesture made in the game against West Ham last month was "abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to FA Rule E3[1]".