LONDON (REUTERS) - The English Football Association (FA) charged Nicolas Anelka on Tuesday for making a "quenelle" salute after scoring for West Bromwich Albion against West Ham United in the Premier League last month.

The salute is widely regarded as being anti-Semitic and the FA have charged the former France international under Rule 3 for "making an abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper gesture".

In a statement on its website (www.thefa.com), the FA added: "It is further alleged that this is an aggravated breach, as defined in FA Rule E3, in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief."

Anelka, who has denied he used it in any derogatory way, has until 1800 GMT on Thursday (2am Friday Singapore time) to respond to the charge.