[Cherie]

Veteran football commentator John Motson has offered a personal apology to Tom Elliott after he described the Millwall striker as 'big, black and brave' on the radio.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed on Monday night how the legendary broadcaster had been reprimanded by talkSPORT bosses for his comments during the station's coverage of Millwall's 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

And we can reveal Motson contacted Elliott on Monday to say sorry for his remarks, insisting it was an error of judgement, and apologising for any offence he may have caused.

Elliot has accepted the apology and wants to draw a line under it


Isn't what he said complimentary

[bitontheslide]

the world truly has gone crazy

[Nicky91]

don't dare coming for football commentary legend John Motson

[Nicky91]

he apologized anyway so

[Oliver_W]

Le sigh. I doubt Elliott even cared.

[reece(:]

Welp why would you even say that

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Welp why would you even say that

Whats wrong with it?

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Whats wrong with it?

Would a commentator ever describe a footballer as "white" as a defining feature? I would say the problem is that he's used it as a descriptor when it's irrelevant to his abilities as a footballer. Big? Sure. Brave? Relevant to his play. Black? Err...

I guess the thing you have to ask is... Can you see someone being described as "big, white and brave" or would he just have said "big and brave".

[reece(:]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Whats wrong with it?

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Would a commentator ever describe a footballer as "white" as a defining feature? I would say the problem is that he's used it as a descriptor when it's irrelevant to his abilities as a footballer. Big? Sure. Brave? Relevant to his play. Black? Err...

I guess the thing you have to ask is... Can you see someone being described as "big, white and brave" or would he just have said "big and brave".

It's just not something you say..? Doesn't even make sense

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by reece(:

It's just not something you say..? Doesn't even make sense

true, that's why i'm myself never saying that honestly

but look John is a veteran football commentator, also well respected commentator too

this from him just a one off wrong thing to say i guess

[Northern Monkey]

I mean I wouldn’t see it as a racist slur.Irrelevant yes.

The amount of times i’ve heard “I’m a strong black woman” with no complaints.That’s also irrelevant.

Leave Motson alone.

[reece(:]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

The amount of times i’ve heard “I’m a strong black woman” with no complaints.That’s also irrelevant.

"I'm a strong black woman" ... said by a black woman? What point does this make..

[Livia]

Is not not big, black and brave then?

[Northern Monkey]

What about Nigel Benn “The Dark Destroyer”.

People use colour as a descriptor all the time.

As long as it’s not negative.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

he apologized anyway so

Case Closed

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by reece(:

"I'm a strong black woman" ... said by a black woman? What point does this make..

Er...Using the word “black” to describe people.He was’nt using it as an insult.


He didn’t do a Ron Atkinson.Now that was racist.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Er...Using the word “black” to describe people.He was’nt using it as an insult.


He didn’t do a Ron Atkinson.Now that was racist.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/20...ll.raceintheuk

yes back in 2004, what Atkinson said about Marcel Desailly which got him sacked from sports pundit job

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Would a commentator ever describe a footballer as "white" as a defining feature? I would say the problem is that he's used it as a descriptor when it's irrelevant to his abilities as a footballer. Big? Sure. Brave? Relevant to his play. Black? Err...

I guess the thing you have to ask is... Can you see someone being described as "big, white and brave" or would he just have said "big and brave".

yes if it was in say Nigeria

but its not

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Would a commentator ever describe a footballer as "white" as a defining feature? I would say the problem is that he's used it as a descriptor when it's irrelevant to his abilities as a footballer. Big? Sure. Brave? Relevant to his play. Black? Err...

I guess the thing you have to ask is... Can you see someone being described as "big, white and brave" or would he just have said "big and brave".

Originally Posted by reece(:

It's just not something you say..? Doesn't even make sense

It was a compliment

Lets see if you complain next time you see the insult, pale, stale and male

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

Er...Using the word “black” to describe people.He was’nt using it as an insult.


He didn’t do a Ron Atkinson.Now that was racist.

Exactly he wasn't using black as an insult, he was using it as a descriptor

[Ramsay]

Seems like a compliment to me like others have said

[reece(:]

Originally Posted by Cherie

It was a compliment

Lets see if you complain next time you see the insult, pale, stale and male

I wasn't a fan of that remark either others had already picked up on it.. nice to see you following my every move though x

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

yes if it was in say Nigeria

but its not

You're right, black men are an extremely unusual and remark-worthy sight in English football.

...

[Mystic Mock]

It is a strange comment tbf.

However I am happy to see that John Motson hasn't lost his job over it as it's not like Ron Atkinson's comments like someone else has said on here.

[Mystic Mock]

It is a strange comment tbf.

However I am happy to see that John Motson hasn't lost his job over it as it's not like Ron Atkinson's comments like someone else has said on here.