Sky Sports News was forced to apologise to viewers earlier today following a racist remark by former England coach Dick Best concerning England’s Delon Armitage.
In the build-up to this afternoon’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement, Best was asked to select his starting XV for the Test series.
When queried as to why he opted for Armitage over Ireland’s Grand Slam winning winger Tommy Bowe, Best – who assumed the microphone was switched off – responded: "You've always got to have a coloured boy in the team."
Sky immediately cut back to the studio and a stunned presenter Mike Wedderburn, who is black. Co-presenter Millie Clode later apologised, saying: “[Best] made remarks that he thought were off-camera. We would like to apologise for any offence this may have caused."
In 2004, ITV football commentator Ron Atkinson resigned after making derogatory and racist comments about Chelsea’s Marcel Desailly. The former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager has struggled to find broadcasting work since.
