Letter: Dear Nicolas Anelka, say you're sorry, please

But it also provoked responses from fans, including one for East Stand season ticket holder Dave Homer, from Stourbridge, who produced an open letter to the French striker. He offers some sympathy for Anelka but declares:

"What I am certain of is two factors. Firstly that rightly or wrongly many people have been deeply offended by your action. And secondly, that you knew the gesture was at the very least controversial and would provoke a reaction.

I also believe you are not a racist or anti-Semitic. My impression of you since you first burst onto the scene with Arsenal was, and remains, that you are a highly intelligent man with an abundance amount of ability to play football but who also knows his own mind.

In many respects I admire your loyalty in that you'd go to all this trouble, risking a reputation you've worked years to build, to simply show support to a friend. Not that I agree in anyway with your friend's politics or 'comedy' act."

Mr Homer also admits to the loyalty of Albion fans towards their players. But he cited the club's Three Degrees – Laurie Cunningham, Brendon Batson and Cyrille Regis – as blazing a trail against racism.

"They experienced hate and verbal abuse wherever they went. But they were dignified. Never reacted negatively, and never reciprocated the negativity.

Your actions have jeopardised that precious legacy and the reputation of West Bromwich Albion.

I'm not really interested in the rights or wrongs of the gesture. The simple fact is that it never should have happened on a football pitch wearing an Albion shirt."

He called on Anelka to offer an expression of regret and apologise to 'anyone who may have been offended by the gesture'.