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WEST BROMWICH, England -- Striker Nicolas Anelka announced he has terminated his contract with Premier League club West Bromwich Albion with immediate effect on Friday after being suspended for five matches by the Football Association for a racially aggravated goal celebration. The former France forward, whose career has been marred by controversies, was suspended last month for performing a gesture which is known in France as a "quenelle" and regarded as anti-Semitic. Anelka said on his Twitter account on Friday that he decided to leave the club because he could not accept West Broms conditions for being allowed back into the squad. "Proposals have been made for me to rejoin the group under certain conditions that I cant accept," Anelka said in French on his 35th birthday. "Wishing to keep my integrity, I took the decision to free myself and end the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion until 2014, with immediate effect." In January, Anelka hinted that he could end his career at the end of the season but also mentioned interests from clubs including Lazio in signing him. Anelka performed the quenelle as he celebrated scoring in West Broms 3-3 draw with West Ham last December. 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 for inciting racial hatred and anti-Semitism. After his suspension was announced at the end of last month, both Anelka and West Brom decided not to appeal the sanction. In Anelkas witness statement, the striker said he became aware of Dieudonne in about 2000, met him once, and watched recordings of his shows. He said he made the gesture "purely to say hello to my friend." Anelka, who had previously been photographed performing the salute, joined West Brom last summer after two disappointing seasons at Shanghai Shenhua and Juventus. The former Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea player is one of the most talented and controversial players France has produced since former Manchester United great Eric Cantona. After growing up in a Parisian suburb, Anelka started his career at Paris Saint-Germain and was quickly spotted by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who signed him in 1997. Known for his immense technical skills, Anelka played a big part in the Gunners winning both the Premier League and the FA Cup but missed out on a place in the France team that won the 1998 World Cup. Anelkas sometimes nonchalant attitude and apparent lack of commitment to the team started to anger the Arsenal fans, who gave him the nickname "Le Sulk." Anelka then joined Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League, before moving to PSG, Liverpool, Manchester City, Fenerbahce and Bolton. The much-travelled Frenchman then struck up an electric partnership with Didier Drogba at Chelsea, winning the Premier League title and two FA Cups with the Blues. Anelka caused the biggest controversy of his career with the French national team, when he was sent home from the 2010 World Cup after insulting then-coach Raymond Domenech in the dressing room. The stubborn Anelka refused to apologize and ended his international career in the wake of the scandal with 14 goals in 69 appearances. Cheap NHL Jerseys . As analysts we do the same thing, so here are some observations from week one. First there were two major upsets. I should say, major upsets in the eyes of the fans and prognosticators. NHL Jerseys .J. -- Kevin Gilbride retired Thursday as offensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/. Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second. NHL Jerseys China . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Authentic NHL Jerseys . - Benched Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman said he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and voluntarily entered the NFL substance abuse program more than a year ago after mistakenly taking a medication to treat the condition.PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins was just hoping for a chance. When Cesar Hernandez provided that opportunity, he made the most of it. Rollins hit a tying RBI double and scored on Carlos Ruizs single in Philadelphias two-run eighth inning, helping the Phillies edge the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Monday night. Hernandez started the winning rally with a two-out walk against Tyler Clippard (6-3). He came around to score on Rollins double. "I was really hoping (Hernandez got on base) so I could get up there and have a chance to do something," Rollins said. "We put some at-bats together and it worked out." After Chase Utley was walked intentionally, Ruiz drove in Rollins with a single to left. B.J. Rosenberg (1-0) recorded the final out of the eighth for the win and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his 24th save in 30 chances. "That was really a tough one; it really hurt," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "It was like a stab in the heart." The Nationals put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but Wilson Ramos was called out on strikes and Anthony Rendon struck out swinging to end the game. Ryan Zimmerman homered for Washington, which had won nine of 12. The Nationals fell 7 1/2 games back of Cincinnati for the second NL wild card. "We had opportunities . but we couldnt get it done," Johnson said. The Nationals took a 2-1 lead in the eighth on Scott Hairstons bases-loaded sacrifice fly that scored Rendon. Hernandez, a converted infielder who was playing his first career game in centre, fielded the ball in shallow centre field but his throw went weakly up the third-base line. Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels and Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg each pitched well before turning a tie game over to the bullpens. "It was quite a pitchers battle," Phillies interim manager Ryne Sandberg said. Hamels struck out eight in seven sharp innings, limiting the Nationals to one run and two hits. He threw 87 pitches, 69 for strikes. Hamels has a 1.90 ERA in his last seven starts but has just two wins during that span. The left-handers record stands at 6-13, thanks partly to the fourth-lowest run support (3.44) among all major league starters entering Mondays action. The performance was somewhat surprising considering Hamels struggled to find his rhythm in his pregame bullpen session. "Someetimes later in the year its hard to get loose," he said.dddddddddddd But facing Strasburg helped, he said. "Anytime you get to compete against the best, you try to up your game," Hamels said. "You try to throw zeroes just like hes doing. I definitely would take pitching against him more often than not because you feel like you really do have to strive for perfection." Strasburg fanned 10 while giving up an unearned run and two hits in six innings. He threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes. The right-hander said he struggled maintaining his grip on the ball on a humid evening that began with a gametime temperature of 81 degrees. "I was sweating a lot out there," he said. "It affected me not being able to pitch more innings. Strange circumstances but I have to be able to deal with it. It was tough gripping the ball like I usually do." Zimmerman connected on an 0-2 pitch in the first for his 16th homer. Washington got just two baserunners off Hamels from that point, with Ramos reaching on an error in the fifth and Bryce Harper singling in the sixth. Strasburg was equally stingy. His only blemish was Ruizs broken-bat RBI single in the fourth that scored Rollins, who had walked. It was an unearned run because Rollins reached second when Ramos throw trying to pick him off at first hit Utleys bat and went to the backstop. Strasburgs record, like Hamels, isnt indicative of how well he has pitched. Strasburg has a 2.41 ERA in his last six starts but has just one win during the stretch. The teams combined to use seven relievers after the starters left. NOTES: Johnson said Harper has a sore hip. "He keeps saying, Im fine, Im fine. Hes a tough kid," Johnson said. "Thats the way he is." Harper missed 31 games with a left knee injury earlier this season. ... Hairston entered with a .412 average (14 for 34) and five homers against Hamels, but went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts against the lanky lefty. ... The three-game series continues Tuesday night when Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-6, 3.56 ERA) opposes RHP Ethan Martin (2-3, 6.39 ERA). ... INF Freddy Galvis and RHP Tyler Cloyd were among the six players the Phillies called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Philadelphia also recalled relievers Luis Garcia, Mauricio Robles and Joe Savery, and purchased the contract of C Cameron Rupp from Lehigh Valley. ' ' '