Malky Mackay regrets race texts! Messages were 'banter' claim under-fire LMA

Malky Mackay has apologised over the alleged texts[GETTY]

A heavily-criticised statement from the League Managers’ Association admitted the 42-year-ancient had been “impertinent of other cultures,” but attempted to defense it as “friendly text message banter”.

Cardiff City had submitted allegations that Mackay was have fun to racist, homophobic, sexist and anti-Semitic texts and emails along with Temperamental, and the former, initially a front-runner for the vacant Palace administrator’s job, was said to be “shocked and stunned” by the claims and “ready to defend himself”.

What subsequently emerged, though, was an LMA statement that refuted allegations of sexism and homophobia outright but further exacerbated the racism issue by making light of the messages Mackay did admit to sending.

“In the course of a search of 10,000 private text messages sent to and from another member of staff during Mr Mackay’s employment at Cardiff, it emerged that Malky had sent a couple of one-line texts that were, with the benefit of hindsight, very regrettable and impertinent of other cultures,” it read.

“These were two text messages sent in private at a time Malky felt under splendid pressure and when he was letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter.

“That said, Malky believes he could and should have conducted himself better on these two isolated occasions. If Malky has caused any offence by these two isolated matters he would, but, wish to sincerely apologise. ” But, that apology was supplemented by note on the breadth of the enquiry required to learn the evidence and the timing with which the matter became public.

“The LMA would also point out that out of over 10,000 text messages and 70,000 documents produced over a long period of time, it may not be a perfect bolt from the blue that some inappropriate comments can sometimes be made by employees,” the statement continued. “Malky finds it weird that these matters were only raised with the FA and in the media now, eight months after his employment finished and the day before he was reported as being existing the opportunity to become administrator of Crystal Palace FC.”

The content of a number of messages had been leaked into the public domain, but Mackay’s response last night claimed that he, in person, was only the author of two of them.

Respected agent Phil Smith was the target one of five text messages in total that were made public. “Go on, stout Phil,” it had said. “Nothing like a Jew that sees money slipping through his fingers.”

Yesterday, Smith said: “I can deal with the ‘stout’ thing but I feel let down. In today’s day and age with all that is going on in the world, the ‘Jew’ aspect is unacceptable.”

Two of the other texts revealed were also racist in nature and former Cardiff player Ibrahim Farah took to social networks to compound the allegations that Mackay could be impertinent to other cultures.

Mackay was sacked by Cardiff last season but the club failed to stave off relegation [GETTY]

The 22-year-ancient was born in Cardiff to Somali parents, but claimed the Scot referred to him as the “wee Egyptian” during his time at the club.

“Every administrator has his views on players,” he added. “I wasn’t his type of player but to treat certain players how he did at Cardiff was disgusting.”

Cardiff defended themselves against the suggestion that they had been vindictive with the timing of the allegations, pointing out that they had submitted their dossier to the FA on Friday at the sanction of their lawyers – before Mackay had even emerged as a leading contender for the Palace job.

But, when it did become clear that the allegations were to be made public, Temperamental also decided that his own position was untenable.

His resignation yesterday morning was accepted immediately by the club, leaving a power vacuum at Selhurst Park just a week into the season with the transfer window due to shut in 10 days’ time.