Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has insisted that he did not intend to cause any offence when he made a controversial 'quenelle' gesture in November.

A photo emerged of Nasri doing what has been described as an inverted Nazi salute outside the City training ground, with the action carrying strong anti-Semitic connotations.

The issue has been highlighted recently after West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka made a similar gesture following his goal in Saturday's draw against West Ham United, but Nasri insists that his actions were intended as an anti-establishment statement rather than a racist one.

"The pose in the picture i posted over 2 months ago symbolises being against the system," Nasri wrote on Twitter.

"Its has absolutely nothing to do with being anti semitic or against jewish people. I apologise for causing any hurt to anyone who might have been mislead into thinking this means anything of that nature."

Anelka could face a minimum of a five-game ban if the FA deem his goal celebration to be in breach of their new anti-discriminatory rules.