LONDON -- Nicolas Anelka was banned for five games by the English Football Association on Thursday and immediately suspended by West Bromwich Albion for a racially aggravated goal celebration. Tom Heinsohn Jersey . The French striker performed the gesture, which is known in his homeland as a "quenelle" and has been described as an "inverted Nazi salute," during a Premier League match in December. Although an FA disciplinary panel backed Anelkas insistence that he was not being intentionally anti-Semitic, performing the gesture was still found to be racist and abusive. Anelka, who appeared at the hearing this week, received the minimum five-game ban for racism offences, was also fined 80,000 pounds ($133,000) and ordered to complete an education course. Anelka can appeal, and he must decide within seven days of receiving the panels written reasons. But West Brom responded to the verdict by suspending him while the central England club conducts an internal investigation and awaits the conclusion of the FA process. "The club acknowledges that the FA panel did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle," West Brom said in a statement. "However, the club cannot ignore the offence that his actions have caused, particularly to the Jewish community, nor the potential damage to the clubs reputation." The panel found Anelka guilty of two charges -- that the gesture "was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper," and it was racially offensive. "The misconduct was an aggravated breach ... in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief," the FA verdict said. Anelkas legal team said he was "pleased" to be cleared of anti-Semitism. "He is now waiting to receive the commissions full reasons for their decision before considering whether or not to appeal," the statement said. Anelka performed the quenelle as he celebrated scoring in West Broms 3-3 draw with West Ham on Dec. 28. The gesture involves pointing one straightened arm downward while touching the shoulder with the opposite hand. It was popularized by French comedian Dieudonne MBala MBala, who has been convicted multiple times for inciting racial hatred or anti-Semitism. The Community Security Trust, which protects British Jews, said Anelka has introduced an "ugly anti-Semitic gesture into British football." "We acknowledge Anelkas denial of anti-Semitic intent, but his action was clear and the FAs zero tolerance approach to racism meant there could be no other outcome," CST chief executive David Delew said. "This verdict sends a strong message to Jewish players and supporters at all levels of the game that the FA will act against anti-Semitic acts if they are reported." The European Jewish Congress expressed concern that Anelka was yet to express any regret over the case. "Even if the FA is not convinced that the players intent at the time was anti-Semitic, he surely knows now the origins of the quenelle and the hurt and pain it caused the Jewish community, yet we are still waiting for an apology," EJC President Dr Moshe Kantor said. "Anelkas silence speaks volumes." The organization hopes the FA will use the case to help clamp down on abuse against Jews. "Anti-Semitism remains the fastest growing hate in football, on the field and in the stadiums, and we hope that this episode will be used positively to once and for all stamp out hatred for Jews in football," Kantor said. Anelka avoided the heaviest racism ban imposed recently by the FA, eight games for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez in 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea captain John Terry received a four-match ban the following year, before the minimum five-game racism ban was introduced in England. Nate Archibald Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. Fake Celtics Jerseys . Minutes before the final whistle of Sporting Kansas Citys 3-0 victory over a shorthanded Montreal Impact squad on Saturday afternoon, Saputo tweeted: "Our fans deserve better. https://www.cheapceltics.com/202n-rajon-rondo-jersey-celtics.html .com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Toronto Blue Jays are struggling so badly, even when they get a huge break, they cant capitalize on it. Their first six batters went down in order against Jered Weaver, who had to leave after 24 pitches because of stiffness in his lower back. But the Jays got only two harmless singles over the final four innings against five relievers and lost their fifth straight, 5-2 to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. "We thought we finally caught a break when Weaver left, but they shut us down," manager John Gibbons said. "Weavers different than he used to be and has a different style, but hes still one of the toughest guys around, so you feel good when he comes out of the game." Juan Francisco hit his 14th home run for the Blue Jays, who slipped three games behind AL East-leading Baltimore. J.A. Happ (7-5) was charged with five runs, seven hits and three walks in 4 1-3 innings. "Weve seen him do that before," Gibbons said. "Thats where he gets into trouble, when he loses the strike zone. Every now and then hell go through those stretches where it deserts him. Hes still got to throw it over the plate and take his chances and let them hit a ball at somebody." The Angels grabbed a 5-2 lead in the fifth. Chris Iannetta, who scored their first run in the third on Mike Trouts groundout, started the four-run rally with a leadoff double that a fan touched near the top of the 18-foot wall in right-centre field. Manager Mike Scioscia asked second base umpire Jim Wolf for a video review, hoping for a home run call he didnt get. Happ walked his next two batters before Albert Pujols hit a bloop single to right-centre that tied the score. It was his second bases-loaded hit in two days, after starting the season 0 for 13 in those situations. Josh Hamilton followed with a sacrifice fly, Howie Kendrick chased Happ with an RBI single through the box, and Erick Aybar greeted Chad Jenkins with an RBI double on the right-handers first pitch. Don Chaney Jersey. "We know he likes to throw fastballs, so we wanted to make him throw strikes," Hamilton said. "Hes got really good stuff, so youve got to make him throw strikes. And if he doesnt then he gets into a bad count and have to throw a strike. Then you can do some damage with it." The winning pitcher was Matt Shoemaker (7-2), who made 61 pitches in his emergency stint while allowing two runs and five hits through 3 2-3 innings. The rookie right-hander had thrown 102 pitches last Thursday in a win over Houston. "It was unbelievable. You talk about trying to earn respect points, and Shoemaker definitely did that -- going on three days rest," Weaver said. "That goes a long way. I mean, for him to step up and do what he did after not thinking he was going to pitch tonight was pretty spectacular. That was an awesome job by him, mentally, and you saw the way the rest of the bullpen came in and shut the door against a pretty good lineup." The Angels recently acquired veteran duo of Joe Thatcher and Jason Grilli helped piece it together with Kevin Jepsen and Joe Smith, who got three outs for his 11th save. The Angels extended their home winning streak to 11 games, one shy of the franchise record set in 1967 -- their second season in Anaheim. They are 16 games over .500 for the first time since ending the 2012 season at 89-73, and remain 3 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Oakland. NOTES: Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista made his second straight start at 1B because of Edwin Encarnacions strained right quadriceps, which landed the second-time All-Star on the 15-day disabled list Monday. Nolan Reimould was added to the major league roster and made his Blue Jays debut starting in CF and going 0 for 3 a day after he was claimed off waivers from Baltimore. ' ' '