West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka has denied his goal celebration during yesterday's 3-3 draw with West Ham was racist.

The striker has also hit out at French politicians who have criticised him for using it, saying they are creating the controversy by not properly understanding the situation. Anelka has said he doesn’t “know how religion has become a part of the story”.

The gesture was made famous by French comedian Dieudonne - a friend of Anelka's - and is linked to anti-Semitism. However, both Dieudonne and Anelka claim the gesture is “anti-establishment” and neither anti-Semitic or racist.

The Football Association has confirmed it will investigate the incident.

Anelka wrote on Twitter this afternoon "The meaning of the gesture: anti-establishment. I don't know how religion has become a part of this story. This quenelle is dedicated to Dieudonne. With regard to the ministers who give their own interpretations of my quenelle, they are the ones that create confusion and controversy without knowing what it really means.

"I would ask people not to be fooled by the media. And of course, I am neither anti-Semitic nor racist and I totally back my gesture."