Controversial French striker Nicolas Anelka denies FA racism charge, vows to fight any ban French striker Nicolas Anelka has been castigated for this gesture. FRENCH footballer Nicolas Anelka has denied making a controversial goal salute which was condemned as anti-Semitic and vowed to fight charges which could see him banned from the sport. Anelka has repeatedly insisted that his use of the gesture, which is known in France as a "quenelle" and has been described as an "inverted Nazi salute," was not anti-Semitic. The West Bromwich Albion striker said he would fight Football Association charges which could carry a five-match suspension. "West Bromwich Albion can confirm that Nicolas Anelka has denied an FA charge regarding the gesture he made after scoring his first goal against West Ham United on December 28," said a club statement. The striker has requested a personal hearing. Earlier, Anelka received the public backing of French performer Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bal, who popularised the "quenelle." "Nicolas Anelka has all my support, that's evident," said Dieudonne. I consider him a brother in humanity. He's someone who is very courageous and for whom I have very much respect and admiration. Dieudonne, who has already agreed to abandon a controversial show that is banned in several French cities after angering the government, has been held by French police for questioning twice in the last two days. A bailiff who delivered documents demanding that Dieudonne pay back taxes said he was shot at with rubber balls from Dieudonne's house west of Paris, according to the regional prosecutor's office. Dieudonne, who has denied wrongdoing, was released both times without charge. Anelka, who performed the "quenelle" as he celebrated scoring in West Brom's 3-3 draw with West Ham United in the Premier League on December 28, has seen his defence against the charge weakened after a French Jewish community leader withdrew his support. The player had responded to this week's FA charge by highlighting through his Facebook and Twitter accounts how the Jewish organisation which represents France's estimated 500,000 Jews said the gesture was not offensive because it was performed on a football field rather than in front of a Jewish site or Holocaust memorial. But Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions President Roger Cukierman has backpedalled on his earlier comments, now stressing that the gesture is "an inversed Hitler salute." Cukierman said he was "troubled" Anelka dedicated his quenelle to French performer Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, "whose own motives are incontestably anti-Semitic."