Former Liverpool footballer Alan Hansen has apologised after describing black players as "coloured" during a debate on Match of the Day.
Hansen angered viewers after he twice referred to black players as "coloured" when discussing the race row threatening to engulf the sport.
At the time he said: "There's a lot of coloured players in all the major teams and there's a lot of coloured players that are probably the best in the Premier League."
Hansen has now apologised "unreservedly" for using the term.
He said: "I unreservedly apologise for any offence caused. This was never my intention and I deeply regret the use of the word."
England Captain John Terry was told yesterday that he would be charged following allegations of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand.
On Tuesday Liverpool's Luiz Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 for using a racist insult against Manchester United's Patrice Evra.