Mackay's texts row: "I'm no racist or homophobe"

Former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay says he's spoken to his union about receiving equality and diversity training following controversial text messages between him and Iain Moody. Mackay insists he's not "racist" or a "homophobe."

Former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has said he's 'no racist, no sexist and no homophobe', as he apologised for sending text messages he's called 'unacceptable.'

It's been alleged that he exchanged controversial text messages with his former recruitment chief Iain Moody, while they were both at the Bluebirds.

In a television interview, Mackay has now admitted sending three 'inappropriate' messages and says he did make a mistake.

Nick Hartley has the story.

Malky Mackay has insisted he is "no racist," "no homophobe" and "no anti-Semitic" after offensive text messages he is alleged to have sent were revealed.

The former Cardiff City manager said he was under "immense pressure" at the time the messages were sent, but admitted "it should not have happened".

• More: Malky Mackay: 'There is no excuse' for offensive texts

• Watch: Redknapp defends Mackay: 'He is not a paedophile'

Cardiff City Football Club have called for the chief executive of the League Managers Association to resign.

Cardiff say LMA chief executive Richard Bevan's position is "untenable" following public statements from the LMA on behalf of their former manager Malky Mackay.

Cardiff says it was "reprehensible that the LMA should itself put out a statement which seeks to dismiss deeply offensive racist comments as 'friendly banter'."

Click here for the full statement by Cardiff City FC.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp offered a defence of under-fire former Cardiff manager Malky Mackay, saying: "He hasn't murdered anyone, he hasn't raped anyone and he is not a paedophile."

Mackay and his former head of recruitment Iain Moody are alleged to have shared racist, sexist and homophobic texts when they worked together at the Welsh club and has since apologised.

News that the Football Association was investigating the exchange prompted Crystal Palace to drop their interest in appointing Mackay as their new manager, but Redkapp does not believe these allegations "should finish his life".

Redknapp wants to see Mackay given a reprieve at some point in the future.

The League Managers Association has apologised for the statement it released yesterday regarding Malky Mackay, saying some of the wording "was inappropriate and has been perceived to trivialise matters of a racist, sexist or homophobic nature".

A highly placed source at Cardiff City told ITV News that they are "extremely disappointed with the League Managers' Association statement, belittling highly offensive comments as banter."

Earlier today England star Rio Ferdinand tweeted to ask "Who wrote the #LMA statement???"

The LMA released a statement on behalf of former Cardiff manager Mackay on Thursday night after the 42-year-old Scot and Iain Moody were alleged to have shared racist, sexist and homophobic texts when they worked together at the Welsh club.

The initial statement said Mackay had been under pressure at the time of the messages and that he was "letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter".

That statement has been widely criticised by anti-discrimination campaigners within the game, and the LMA today felt compelled to apologise for how the first release had been worded.

The chairman of football's anti-racism body says he is "aware but not shocked" by allegations that Malky Mackay and Iain Moody sent offensive text messages during their time at Cardiff.

Lord Herman Ouseley said the FA should not hold back with any sanctions should the claims prove to be true.

Former England striker Stan Collymore has described the League Managers' Association's statement which says Malky Mackay's offensive text messages were part of some "friendly banter" as being "f****** disgraceful".

The LMA released a statement on behalf of former Cardiff manager Mackay on Thursday night after the 42-year-old Scot and Iain Moody were alleged to have shared racist, sexist and homophobic texts when they worked together at the Welsh club.

Collymore tweeted: "LMA statement. F*****g disgraceful. Institutional acceptance of the "banter" of casual racism.

The Football Association has confirmed it is investigating a dossier of alleged racist, sexist and homophobic text messages sent by football manager Malky Mackay.

Mackay is accused of exchanging the texts with Iain Moody when they were both at Cardiff City.

ITV News sports correspondent Ian Payne reports.

Read: Moody resigns from Crystal Palace after 'racist texts' claims

Former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand has questioned a managers' union statement which defended offensive text messages allegedly sent by Malky Mackay as "friendly text message banter."

The former Cardiff City manager and ex-head of recruitment Iain Moody had been accused of sending "sexist, racist and homophobic" text messages during their time at Cardiff.

But a statement on behalf of Malky Mackay issued by the League Managers' Association has since been criticised by a number of parties including an anti-racism group.