( CNN ) -- French soccer star Nicolas Anelka has decided to quit English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion following his punishment for making a controversial `` quenelle '' gesture . Anelka was last month banned for five matches and fined £80,000 ( $ 130,000 ) by the English Football Association following an incident during a match in December . Anelka was widely criticized by performing the `` quenelle '' -- which involves pointing a straightened arm downwards while touching the shoulder of that arm with the other hand -- after scoring against West Ham . The gesture , which he said was dedicated to his comedian friend Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala -- who uses it as part of his act -- is believed by some to be a Nazi salute in reverse and has been linked with anti-Semitism in Anelka 's homeland . An Independent Regulatory Commission was asked to consider if the gesture was `` abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper , '' and `` included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief . '' Both charges were proved , said the commission , but it added it did not believe Anelka to be a racist . West Brom , which is battling to avoid relegation from the top flight , decided not to appeal against the judgment . `` I have taken the decision to free myself and put an end to the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion , '' Anelka wrote in French on his Twitter page on Friday -- his 35th birthday . `` Following talks between the club and me , propositions were made to me in order to reintegrate me into the squad under certain conditions that I can not accept . `` Wishing to retain my integrity , I have therefore taken the decision to free myself and put an end to the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion to 2014 , with immediate effect . '' West Brom , however , said Friday it had yet to hear officially from Anelka -- whose ban was due to start this weekend , with the club outside the Premier League 's bottom three on goal difference , having 10 matches to play . It said his Twitter statement was `` highly unprofessional '' and constituted `` gross misconduct '' -- and said it had given the striker 14 days ' notice of termination as required by his contract . `` The club notes Nicolas Anelka is unwilling to agree to the conditions set by it which may have enabled his suspension to be lifted and for him to resume training , '' it said in a second statement . `` These conditions were , firstly , that the club required Nicolas Anelka to apologize to it , its supporters , sponsors and the wider community for the impact and consequences of his gesture made on December 28 and secondly , that he accept a substantial fine . '' The FA had considered appealing against Anelka 's punishment , having been criticized by anti-racism groups over its alleged leniency . `` We do not consider there is a real prospect of successfully appealing to extend the sanction imposed , '' the FA 's director of governance Darren Bailey said Thursday . `` The grounds of appeal available to us are limited to legal challenges or to circumstances in which the sanction imposed is 'so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable ' . That is a high test . '' Anelka joined West Brom on a one-year deal in August , and his two goals against West Ham on December 28 were his first for the club . He continued to play while the matter was being investigated , but was sidelined in February due to a knee injury . Anelka has played for many of Europe 's biggest clubs , including Real Madrid , Juventus , Chelsea , Arsenal , Liverpool , Manchester City , Paris Saint-Germain and Fenerbahce , as well as a short but highly-paid stint with Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua . He played for France on 69 occasions , winning the 2000 European Championship , but his only World Cup appearance in 2010 ended in disgrace as he was expelled from the squad following an argument with coach Raymond Domenech . Anelka was subsequently banned for 18 matches by the French federation , but decided to end his international career rather than serve it .
Nicolas Anelka announces he will leave English Premier League club West Brom . The former Manchester United striker has been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League. Club says he has breached contract and serves notice of termination . The `` quenelle '' is seen by many to have racist , anti-Semitic connotations .