Nicolas Anelka and the "quenelle" gesture: what is it?

Zoopla has decided to end their sponsorship with West Bromwich Albion over the row involving Nicolas Anelka's "quenelle" gesture. But what exactly is it?

The signal, made by pointing one arm downwards palm down while touching the shoulder with the other hand, is the trademark of the controversial French comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala.

He popularised it when he launched an anti-Zionist campaign in the European elections in 2009. The comedian, from Cameroon, says it is an "anti-establishment" salute not aimed at Jewish people.

It reached the headlines again when two soldiers were pictured making the gesture outside a Paris synagogue in September 2013.

The signal has since gone viral with many people posting pictures of themselves making the salute outside sensitive sites such as the Auschwitz death camp.

Anelka has defended the gesture, made after scoring against West Ham in December, saying on Twitter it had nothing to do with religion and was not racist.

The West Brom striker says the signal was dedicated to his friend Diuedonne, who has received a number of convictions for incitement to cause hatred and racial discrimination.

The comedian's recent show in Nantes was cancelled by France's highest administrative court an hour before it was due to begin.

Anelka is not the only famous sportsman to imitate the salute. Manchester City's Samir Nasri has defended his use of the signal, as did NBA star Tony Parker and Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho.