The 30-year-old, who joined Beijing Enterprises in 2017, claims he was told “not to try” on two occasions.

He has been in dispute with the Chinese club since October last year, and has reportedly sought legal advice over the matter.

After his lawyers were ignored by the club, who ply their trade in China League One, Anichebe filed a complaint with Fifa.

He claims he has lost a year of his playing career because of the dispute that robbed him of a chance of getting into the Nigerian squad for the World Cup.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Anichebe questioned the initial instruction to not try but was told by his team-mates: “This is China, we do what we’re told.”

Albion bought Anichebe from Everton in September 2013 for £6million, but the striker only scored nine goals from 63 appearances for the Baggies.

His three-year stay at The Hawthorns was often blighted by injury and he was released in the summer of 2016.

That year he was reunited with former Toffees boss David Moyes at Sunderland, but only stayed at the Black Cats for a year before heading out to China.

Anichebe only played 10 games for Beijing Enterprises, who play in the second tier in China.