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. www.cheapnfljerseyschinastore.us.com . 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. cheapnfljerseyschinastore.us.com .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. http://www.cheapnfljerseyschinastore.us.com/ . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup.PHILADELPHIA -- Nikola Pekovic had to chuckle on the bench as fans held a pair of gigantic cutouts of his head right over him. His Minnesota teammates were certainly amused, laughing at the trio of Pekovic heads. "When you look at the heads, then you hold it up to close to him, theyre actually the same size," Kevin Love said, smiling. The T-Wolves could afford some levity after a romp on a night when the basket had to look as large as one of those oversized heads. Love scored 16 of his 26 points in a dominant third quarter and Pekovic had 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 126-95 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Minnesota made 16 of 26 3-pointers (62 per cent) to put this one away in a hurry and moved back to .500 (17-17). Kevin Martin scored 18 points and Corey Brewer had 15 to help the Timberwolves win for the fourth time in six games. Thaddeus Young scored 20 points for the Sixers, who entered the night having won the final four games of a six-game road trip. The Timberwolves ended any threat of Philadelphia extending its streak by the second quarter. They led by 16 at the half and Love hit a pair of 3s in the third to build a 31-point lead. The Timberwolves had seven players score in double figures. The undersized Sixers simply had no answer for the Love and Pekovic underneath, or in Loves case from beyond the arc. Young, named before the game the Eastern Conference player of the week, gamely tried to shut down the potent duo, with no luck. Love and the Timberwolves turned the game into a blowout in the third. He hit his first 3 for a 24-point lead, converted a three-point play for a 25-point lead, then nailed another 3 late in the quarter to make it 96-71. The Sixers showed why they are one of the worst 3-point defending teams in the league. Love hit four, Martin had three and the Timberwolves hit 13 of 20 through the first three quarters. That was more than enough to finish off the Sixers. The Sixers were riding a season-best four-game winning streak, capped by a win at Portland. Perhaps fatigued from the lengthyy road trip, they were never much of a factor after the first quarter. cheapnfljerseyschinastore. Minnesota closed the first half on a 24-8 run, with Brewer and Love hitting game-changing 3s. "They were playing good basketball, but Coach mentioned a couple of times that its always tough coming back from a long road trip like that, so they might be a little complacent, a little lackadaisical," Love said. "We just felt they were a little tired being gone so long. We tried to take advantage of that, and I felt we did." Theres no break in the schedule for the Sixers. They play Tuesday at Cleveland and back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday. "Ive never seen a schedule like this coming back from a West Coast trip," said centre Spencer Hawes. "Its not like were just getting to stay home." The already sparse crowd, still reeling from the Eagles early post-season loss, fled for the exits by the fourth. The final quarter had the feel of a preseason game -- which the Sixers surely wish it was. A.J. Price and Robbie Hummel connected on consecutive 3s in the final minute for the final 3s for a team that was shooting only 34 per cent. Ricky Rubio had eight assists and Minnesota held a 53-40 rebounding edge. "Just a really solid win for us," coach Rick Adelman said. "We came out at the start of the game and played well all the way through. We did a pretty good job of keeping them in the half court and passed the ball and shot the ball well." James Anderson had 14 points, and Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Turner each scored 13 points for the Sixers. "Weve just got to bounce back," Turner said. NOTES: Timberwolves C Ronny Turiaf was scoreless in 22 minutes in his first game since he hurt an elbow on Nov. 1. ... Timberwolves F Luc Mbah a Moute sat out with a strained groin. ... 76ers G Tony Wroten was inactive with the flu. ... The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Timberwolves originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City on Dec. 4 will now be played in Minnesota on April 8. cheap jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '