FA decide against appealing Nicolas Anelka's five-match ban

The Football Association have announced that they will not appeal the five-match ban issued to West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka for his controversial 'quenelle' gesture.

There were suggestions that the English governing body could appeal for an extended ban after it was revealed by an independent panel that the FA originally wanted a longer suspension.

Anelka made the gesture, which is "strongly associated" with anti-semitism, during a goal celebration in a Premier League match against West Ham United back in December.

A statement from the FA said: "Having carefully considered the written reasons of the Independent Regulatory Commission together with our appointed QC, the FA confirm they will not be appealing the sanction imposed on Nicolas Anelka.

"The grounds of appeal available to the FA are limited to legal challenges or to circumstances in which the sanction imposed is 'so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable.'

"The FA does not consider there is a real prospect of successfully appealing to extend the sanction imposed."

Anelka was also fined £80,000 by the governing body.