(JTA) — England’s Football Association has charged player Nicolas Anelka for performing an anti-Semitic gesture during an official match.

The FA on Tuesday charged Anelka,  a French national playing for the West Bromwich Albion British soccer team, with making a “gesture which was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to FA Rule E3[1].” The charge was aggravated because it “included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief.”

Anelka has until the end of Thursday to respond to the charge.

Anelka in a game on Dec. 28 performed the quenelle, a gesture reminiscent of the Hitler salute that was invented by the anti-Semitic French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala. Anelka said he is not anti-Semitic and the gesture was a personal tribute to Dieudonne. He said he would not make the gesture again, but has not apologized.

The FA brought in an outside expert to help decide whether charges should be brought. An independent three-man commission will now be appointed to decide on Anelka’s punishment if he accepts the charges, or to hold a disciplinary hearing if he rejects them, according to British newspaper The Guardian.

Anelka has continued to play during the investigation. He could be suspended for at least five matches.

Zoopla, a major sponsor of the West Bromwich Albion team, on Monday canceled a $4.93 million deal with the team over the issue. The company is co-owned by Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman.

Following Tuesday’s announcement, European Jewish Congress President Dr. Moshe Kantor expressed satisfaction that Nicolas Anelka has been charged over what he called the “racist and offensive gesture” and called for “the strongest punishment possible.”

“The FA must send a very strong message that offenses made against the Jewish community should be treated in the same away as offenses against any other minority,” Kantor said in a statement. “Anti-Semitism is a growing phenomenon in Europe, and in particular surrounding football stadiums, and hate against Jews, as with any other type of hate and intolerance, should be stamped out without demonstrating leniency to the perpetrators.”