Nicolas Anelka’s quenelle gesture embarrassed and damaged West Bromwich Albion, the club’s chairman has said.
Speaking for the first time about the affair, Jeremy Pearce said it had been a “huge issue in terms of our standing”.
West Brom terminated the player’s contract after he had made the gesture – a form of Nazi salute – during a Premier League match in December 2013.
The move came after the Football Association banned Anelka for five matches and fined him £80,000.
