Anelka to get FA hearing after denying quenelle gesture

The striker has requested a personal hearing over the incident, which happened after his first goal against West Ham United on December 28.

A statement from the Baggies said: "The club will make no further comment until The FA's disciplinary process has reached a conclusion."

Meanwhile, controversial French comedian Deuidonne M'Bala M'Bala has defended Anelka's celebration and insisted the gesture is not racist.

Deuidonne, who has faced charges over the gesture in his native France in the past, has spoken out in support of the striker, who is his good friend, following the FA's decision to charge the West Bromwich Albion forward.

The comic said Anelka had made the gesture to make a connection with history and said it had its roots in emancipation.

He said Anelka was a "prince" in France, and offered people hope.

Deuidonne said: "Nicolas Anelka has my support, that is evident. I consider him to be a brother in humanity.

"He is very courageous and for him I have much respect and admiration.

"He is a prince. In England, you have princes and queens. In France we have Nicolas Anelka. To us he is hope."

The comedian said the gesture was not racist of anti-semitic.

He said: "I am of African and French origin and this gesture is about emancipation.

"There is nothing Nazi about it. This gesture is one that was for slaves, and over time it has become to mean that it is against the system.

"Nicolas Anelka is descended from slaves and if he wants to make a connection with history then he has a right to be able to do that.

He also spoke about the people who have been pictured making the controversial gesture in places such as Auchwitz and the Anne Frank Museum.

He said: "People also do it while they are in the air on a parachute or while they are getting married.

"I am not responsible for where people do this gesture."