Malky Mackay has apologised for sending three "completely unacceptable" messages as Cardiff City manager, insisting, "I'm no racist, I'm no sexist, I'm no homophobe, I'm not antisemitic", and claiming the majority of discriminatory texts being investigated by the Football Association in England were not sent by him.

Mackay and his former head of recruitment at Cardiff, Iain Moody, are alleged to have shared a number of messages containing racist, sexist and homophobic language during their time at the club, with the City owner, Vincent Tan, recently submitting a dossier of evidence to the FA through the law firm Mishcon de Reya.

In a bungled apology on Thursday the League Managers' Association said he had been letting off steam with "friendly banter" but Mackay apologised in person for the first time last night, saying he would seek equality and diversity training but also distancing himself from the vast majority of messages.

‘Unacceptable’

“Out of 10,000 text messages out of someone’s phone, I sent three. That being the case, looking at them, they are completely unacceptable and inappropriate; for any offence caused I sincerely apologise.

“That’s something I did and there is no excuse for that. I did it in a period when I was under immense pressure and stress in terms of the relationships that were not going too well at my football club at the time,” Mackay told Sky Sports.

“I’m a manager, I’m a leader of people and it shouldn’t have happened. But I am a human being and I made a mistake. I am no racist, I am no sexist, I am no homophobe and I’m not antisemitic. It’s the people that don’t know me that I have to convince.

“It was someone else’s phone that a vast array of private texts were lifted from, in and out of the phone. I’ve received some, the three that I sent are what I’m accountable for.

“What I’ve done here has been stupid and made a mistake in three texts. They are testing times but I’ve got values and resilience. I will come back from this.”

Cardiff released a scathing statement yesterday, condemning the LMA for its “complicit” role in allegedly sitting on the text message saga and describing the messages as “banter”.

‘Untenable’

They called on chief executive

Richard Bevan

to resign, saying his position was “untenable” because the LMA allegedly refused to inform the FA of the discriminatory messages shared by Mackay and Moody earlier in the year, despite being asked to do so by the club.

The LMA yesterday backed Bevan to keep his job but Mackay claimed he had never used the word “banter” to describe the controversial texts. The LMA deleted their initial statement and apologised after receiving widespread criticism.

Mackay added: “I’ve certainly personally never said the word banter. I think the overall statement was accurate. That word was wrong and the LMA realised that. I think the use of that word was wrong and the LMA have a long-standing reputation in the game. They realised they made a mistake clearly and they changed it.

“There’s an FA investigation going on at the moment. I’m 100 per cent confident that investigation will show I have absolutely done no wrong in transfers. I’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement with Cardiff, I have to hold my end of that bargain up. I will comply with the FA investigation to the letter of the law.” Bevan was unavailable for comment.

Mackay was set to be appointed as Crystal Palace’s manager this week but the club shelved their move on Wednesday in the light of the allegations, while Moody resigned from his position as the club’s sporting director.

Cardiff said in a statement: “When the messages came to light, over three months ago, the club strongly encouraged and advised Mr Moody and Mr Mackay to deal with the issue directly with the FA.

“It was made clear to them, and their LMA appointed lawyers, that the nature of the communications meant the club was under a duty to report their findings to the FA if they did not take appropriate action themselves.

“Nevertheless, with the backing of the LMA, Mr Moody and Mr Mackay chose to do nothing. The LMA were therefore complicit in the attempt to conceal these messages.” – Guardian Service