Ron Atkinson has lost his job as soccer pundit on ITV Sport and as a weekly columnist for The Guardian Newspaper following his racist comment directed at Marcel Desailly.
He made derogatory comments off-air after Tuesday's Champions League semi final between Chelsea and Monaco. However the comments were aired in the Middle East where the live feed had continued to run after full time.
"It is unbelievable really. It is nobody's fault but my own," Atkinson said. "When I finished watching the game, I put my microphone down and am sitting there watching some tapes of what went on for Chelsea. And I must admit I was talking to myself, or with myself, more than anybody, having a pop and unfortunately used a phrase which I really don't know how I have said that.
"I had the shock of my life the next day when I was told. Nobody else around me heard me say it, unfortunately the feed was still on and there was a microphone on the table which picked up what I had said. For that I apologise.
To the people I offended, particularly Marcel Desailly, I would apologise for the comments I made. It was not an intentional comment, but it was an unfortunate one. I did not even know I had said it."
Filed by Johnny Proby
