London - Former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson has resigned as a football pundit with British broadcaster ITV after making a racist off-air comment following Tuesday's Champions League match between Chelsea and Monaco.
An ITV spokesperson said: "We do not in any way condone the comments in question, which were not broadcast as part of ITV's coverage but were made in an off-air conversation after the game. "It was a regrettable lapse by a respected and experienced broadcaster."
"We have discussed the situation with Ron Atkinson, who is devastated and very sorry for any offence caused by his comments.
"He immediately offered his resignation which we have accepted."
Atkinson was said to have called Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly a "f***ing lazy nigger" during a post-match conversation with match commentator Clive Tyldesley.
Atkinson has apologised for his remarks.
The use of such inflammatory language was all the more surprising as during the late 1970s, Atkinson was at the forefront of giving opportunities to black players when manager of West Bromwich Albion. - Sapa-AFP
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