Big Ron Quits ITV

[Trigger]

Football pundit Ron Atkinson has resigned from ITV Sport after making racist comments off-air after the game between Chelsea and Monaco.

Atkinson was said to be "devastated and very sorry" for any offence caused and offered his resignation to his ITV bosses immediately.

The spokesman 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 who has been part of the ITV sports team for many years.

"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."

 

[smudge]

This is a wind-up isn't it? Doh!

 

[Ernest]

I wonder what he said ?

 

[Trigger]

This is a wind-up isn't it? Doh!

Nope... Further story on the link below...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3648051.stm

 

[SussexSpur]

Find him funny sometimes but he's cocked up here.

Should have seen this coming earlier in the season, really, when he oh-so-tactfully referred to Anthony Gardner as "the tallest left-back in captivity".

What a stupid thing to say.

After all - he's a centre-back.

 

[SussexSpur]

I wonder what he said ?

A dirty, well, you can guess the rest. . .

 

[FG aka Football Genius.]

ALWAYS HATED THE t055er still hate him GOOD RIDDANCE now maybe we can have a co-commentator with more intelligence than a fried potatoe

 

[sullyupthewing]

ALWAYS HATED THE t055er still hate him GOOD RIDDANCE now maybe we can have a co-commentator with more intelligence than a fried potatoe

Well you will not get the job, use the word spud if you cannot spell potato.

 

[Ernest]

A dirty, well, you can guess the rest. . .

What's racist about that ? I remember when Big Ron was commentating on 1998 World Cup and Jamaica were playing and they pan to the crowd and Big Ron goes 'Looks like half of Birmingham here '

 

[Mendoza]

i think he'll be back. you'll need a spotters badge to find him on channel 5 or some other random digital channel though

 

[FG aka Football Genius.]

he can FVCK OFF The t055er and never get on TV again always hated the tw@t always will, there are so many decent qualkity pundits how Terry Venabals or Glen Hoddle dont get regular spots is amazing

FVCK OFF BIGhead LITTLE BRAIN RON!

 

[Wilko]

He is supposed to be on room 101 BBC2 at 9.00 - be interesting to see if they change this

 

[bigc]

tomorrow?

I've seen the ron one before, he isnt offensive in it so it will stay i reckon

 

[Rambo]

Always remember some of his classic gaffs.

Great ball from 'Ryan Ince'
Every Man Uts player was back except for Romario.

What a dunce - he will not be missed.

 

[Wozza]

Read elsewhere that he described Desailly a "lazy ******"

 

[FG aka Football Genius.]

spot on rambo LITTLE BRAIN BIG HEAD RON CAN FVCK OFF THE CVNT

 

[bigc]

I used to like Ron, what a stupid twat tho for doing that.

He seemed to have it in for Desailly during the match too. if he'd been talking about Robert Huth and called him a lazy kraut would he have been ok?

 

[Safeway]

spot on rambo LITTLE BRAIN BIG HEAD RON CAN FVCK OFF THE CVNT

What's this, FG speaking out against racism? Seen it all now.

 

[oapdodge]

I never did like big fat Ron,wonder what he said ? Might have been something to do with gold sold to him on the beach at Monocco,dodgy dealing or something,scratched the paint off.

 

[Wozza]

From The Telegraph....

Atkinson quits ITV after racist jibe
(Filed: 21/04/2004)

Football pundit Ron Atkinson has resigned from ITV Sport after off-air racist comments were broadcast on a Middle East sports channel following last night's game between Chelsea and Monaco.


He was heard describing Marcel Desailly, Chelsea's black defender, as "a f***ing lazy n*****".

The remarks, made to someone in the ITV studio, were accidentally broadcast on Arabian Radio and Television (ART) where the live feed had continued to run after full time.

Atkinson said: "I made a stupid mistake which I regret it left me no option but to resign. At the moment I can't believe I did it. It was just a moment of stupidity.

"I was very frustrated at the end of the game because I thought Chelsea could have won. I regret making the comments and I apologise to anyone I may have offended.

"If you look at my track record as a manager, I was one of the first managers in the game to give black players a chance."

An ITV spokesman 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.

"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."