Kate, London
Ron Atkinson is an idiot. It's frightening that someone as ignorant and as archaic as him was in such a position of privilledge in the first place. I'm fed up with these racist dinosaurs being given such positions because they happened to be good at kicking a ball around way back when.

Matt
There is a difference between a comment made in anger and a racist person

John Atkins
I work with a number of ethnic groups. I am called "Whitey", and do not take offense. This world has become too sensitive, and we need to lighten up. If I got upset at every comment on my race, I'd be forever in litigation!

Michael
To my eternal shame I once used the old term: "as long as there are no n*****s in the woodpile" to a black person's face during a meeting. I realised my stupidity immediately and apologised profusely, but it did cause great offence. My family was expelled from Sotuh Africa in 1954 for its stand against apartheid and I grew up fighting racialism. Sometimes, however, we do say stupid things unintentionally. I hope people will forgive Mr Atkinson for his stupidity.

Chinedu
Black people can't look down on black people based on the colour of their skin. No one would take such a black person seriously. White people shouldn't even joke about the "n" word. You can never be sure what context they are using it in.

Edward
I really doubt Ron is a racist, and yes, some times insults are used in an 'innocent' way, but the N word... The social connotations of it make it probably the most obsene insult there is. If it was a slip up, it was a very very stupid one and shows Ron was right to resign.

Y Mehellou
does this incident show that racism is still a problem if football. I think it does!

Sue Eaton
If I'm really angry, like if someone cuts me up on the road, then I'll use words that I don't mean, even if their parents were not married. I think he should have been able to apologise, not resign.

Alan
Interesting that it's acceptable for a black band to use the N word -NWA but nobody else

David Wrede
My name is of Germanic origin. Do I have a right to be as angry about Mr. Desmond's use of a different 'N' word, appended to all Germans, as individuals of African descent are about Ron's stupid remarks?

Jamie Ferguson
prince philip has said worse on many more occasions and has he been asked to resign as duke of edinburgh?

Russell
Robert, I think you had better bring this one back in to context. Comparing fielding black players to having slaves tending the fields is absurd. Are black footballers paid less? No. So to prove that you are not racist, employ only whites??? It was a racist remark, but was not said by a racist, it was not out and out racism.

Peter Varley
Just for the record. The Arab Muslim word for a Black Muslim carries the same connotation as the 'N' word--that's what they think of Black muslims! And on slavery Arab Muslims took 18 million slaves from east Africa between the 8th century and 1905 when it officially ended. Strange how it's only white people who are racists and slavers.

Rachel
It was a slip of the tongue!! We're all guilty of it in some way. e.g. - you fat .....; you ginger*****, the Welsh ?!?!?. Get the point? Thing is, I hear black people calling other black people the "n" word all the time, they don't get offended? I get called The "Welsh bird" or something similar all the time, I've even been called white trash before now, yet I'm not allowed to be outraged?? Truth is though I'm not outraged, because I've got a sense of humour and enough intelligence to realise when someone is saying it out of malice or just out of fun (innocence) at me.

Bazza
You have to ask yourself what sort of culture there is amongst Ron and his ilke if he felt comforatble enough to use that languague amongst his peers. Never, in my circle of friends have I heard or am I likley to hear such a racist outburst. If this was a slip of the tongue - it was a slip of a racist tongue.

J Daisy
Atkinson has a long history of working with black players. He, probably more than most white managers, would know how hateful his comments were. Like alcohol, anger has this funny knack of loosening the tongue and revealing your subconcious. He knew what he meant when he said it. You don't have to like black players to give them a job. Atkinson's only regret was that he was heard and that this has temporarily ended his income stream. That said, his after dinner engagements should increase as there are many in the 'establishment' that share his sentiments.

Victoria L
Ron Atkinson should have been more professional and should not have used the F word or the N word. Only months ago he was on Room 101 complaining that footballers complain too much and don't value their roles enough, but that they have no right to as they are generously paid. The same principle applies to Ron. He is well-paid and a professional and should have taken his own role more seriously too.

James Auger
People who are not racist can say words that they should not. This does not make him a racist. There are plenty of peole who never say the N word that are racist. I am sure that there are plenty of people in the ITV, govenment, royalty, industry that are racist but have a better comand of the english language. How many people complaining have never used a word the should'nt have?

Duncan
I am very upset about this incident. Ron was always a favourite pundit of mine and I always liked his personality plus he seemed to do a lot in the past for black players. Personally I think that he is no more racist than a lot of white people of his generation and background and that he was caught out. That said, the simple truth is that you just cannot use this word as a white person, full stop. The only reason this came to light was because the broadcast was heard by viewers, why didn't his co-presenter/ producer/ director reprimand him in some way and why are they not being disciplined as well?

John
Racism is absolutely intolerable in whatever form. However, don't you think this one's just got a little out of hand. Big Ron maybe many things but I dont believe he's racist. Let's face it the man's lost his job over this and unlikely to get another. How many of us would lose our jobs for a similar mistake?

JAN
When I first came to the UK from the Caribbean 45 years ago, there is no question that our society was deeply racist. Things have undoubtedly improved. One of those who contributed to this improvement is Ron Atkinson. Perhaps I am a racist too, but I have to admit that it gave me immense pleasure whenever Ron’s team beat more ethnically “pure” teams in the league. Now, following Ron’s lead most if not all of our football teams are chosen on merit and there are plenty of black players at every level in the professional game. It might be helpful if some, who benefited directly from Ron’s colour-blindness, were to speak up now on his behalf.

john mulholland
I wonder what laurie cunningham, cyril regis, dwight yorke - players who would say big ron was the most influental person in there lives not martin luther king - would or could say on this matter?

Ann Newton
Interesting that so many people want to justify the racist language used by Ron Atkinson, I am older than him and white, even in temper whether in public or private I would not use a word that I know causes offence to the black community,we all have a duty to educate ourselves and not to follow bigots like sheep. The intelligent people are the ones who confront this behaviour. To condone racist language is to be a racist.

Courtney
A previous message refers to conotations of the word being different to older generations, poppy cock, if an old lady called me by that name I would be offended. I have friends and family whom are white and the older generation, none of them slip using the term.

Legion
Yeah people often say the wrong things when annoyed but that is still no excuse for him to call Desailly's race into things.

Neil
Good riddance to anybody who uses racist language. There is no such thing as accidental use of racist language.

DMX
It was a very bad mistake that shouldn't have happened. No one is going to give him the benefit of the doubt whether him meant it or not. He's guilty which ever way he wants to 'shine it'.

C Allen
If you are white you have no business saying that the word n****r is not offensive; I am black and it offends me a great deal, and no white person can possibly understand that. I can accept a white person's opinion on words that relate to them, but the implications of the use of the word n****r in a derogatory sense can only be appreciated by a black person.

Phil Shatliff
What big Ron said would seem to be out of character with his actions over many years and no-one should have their career ended over a single mistake. I hope to see him back on the tv soon.

Nick
Like all words, the word n****r itself is not the problem. It is the way that it was used. Ron Atkinson used that word in a racist way which was a gross abuse of his responsibilities for a person in such a position of influence. Therefore he lost that position. Fair play.

Carl
If you are in the 'public eye' then you can't afford to have a different 'private' opinion'. As for his choice of words - would we be so worried if he had used 'lazy b*****d'? Would that be a slander against all children born out of wedlock? We have to decide what n****r means nowadays - whatever it means, it wasn't meaning something good.

Ray
Whatever happened to freedom of speech? It may be offensive to some, but it is simply a word. There are far too many thin-skinned reactionaries out there who take offence at the drop of a hat. It's a word, it can't hurt you, please grow up!

Sue Longley
I would like to say that it has never been acceptable to me or anyone in my generation to use the N word and I am 55! This is no excuse at all.

Sam West
I can't believe all these people trying to defend him by using rap records as an excuse. You think he actually listened to 50? or rap music? It wont ever be acceptable coming from a white man because there's too much history behind it.

Izzi Aihie
I believe it is racism without a shadow of doubt. The N word is very deep and quite offensive, every black person should be offended. It was just a football game and nothing more, so the words were absolutely unnecessary.

Jezz
So it's fine for black people to use the word...?How many people have used the word 'fat' or 'ugly' or 'ginger' or 'Irish' etc etc as an insult in the heat of the moment? It does not excuse it, but we must learn that knee-jerk reactions like this do not change society for the better.

Chris Beard
People should just get over it! It's just like the word queer, it started as a slur but the gay community have taken and used it in a different way! just the same as the black community have taken the word n****r!

amy cross
In the dictionary next to the word n****r it says OFFENS! I am mixed race Black and White, I dont really like the word n****r, but if i was to use the word would I be classed a racist because I am half white or not because I am half black?

Black Funkmaster
When black rappers or black people use the word n****r it is an attempt to remove the sting from it. Rap is music of protest and if you listen to it they do not call any other race by insulting terms/names. A black man calling another a n****r is a private joke at the whiteman`s expense.

Phonenix Foster
There is nothing eccentric, funny, accidental, about the word n****r whether it is use by a black or white person. This man is quite clearly racist; he could have called him many things relating to his performance, but by using this particular word he is the one who has chosen to relate this to race.

Ochieng
I'm very disappointed in him despite the fact that he says he's brought in more black players into the premiership than any other manager, I think what he said trully reveals what he thinks about black players. His mentality is that we are n****s and I don't think saying sorry will help us understand what he trully thinks about black players/people.

Martin Allen
For someone of Ron Atkinson's age the word n****r is/was a commonly used word with no racist connotations. Had a younger man have said this then it would have been unacceptable, but for Ron Atkinson to be forced to suffer for this is ridiculous and unfair.

D Griffiths
This comment is only as bad as the reaction it provokes. In this case, it would seem to be in extremely poor taste. However, to put it in context, I don't think Ron meant it as a racist slur. Sure, it was meant as an insult to Marcel. How many of us have also been guilty of insulting bigotry in moments of anger? Ron was clearly annoyed and made an appalling choice of words - I don't think Ron is a racist though.

Anton McCoy
I think it's time to choose if the 'n' word is bad or not. Clearly people have been offended, and rightly so. However should it be banned from black music? How do you explain to a white child that the word n****r is seemingly fine for a black person to say, but racist for a white person to say? Either everyone can use it, or no one. After all aren't we suppose to be equal?

Craig Churm
Give the man a break! Do we hang everyone who swears on TV before the watershed? I hate racism with a passion but how many times do we let words slip out in the heat of the moment? Ron is passionate about football and at 65 has lived through the 30 years where the N word was acceptable, now we have become more PC we should also become more tolerant of people's genuine mistakes. Next time you let the F word slip out in front of your grandmother go fire yourself from your family!

Billie Elle
Big Ron is not a bad man. Sure, he made a mistake and for it he has to go - even he admits that. He is a product of society and it just goes to show that there is still racism in the game. However, when anyone gets passionate about something, whether right or wrong, bad words tend to come out... surely everyone's watched a game and sworn at the TV or the idiot defender playing badly?

Ben
We've loved Big Ron for years because of his gaffes, this man is the Godfather of gaffes. He gaffes once about race and is now evil Ron the racist. I wonder where you were when he gave Cyril Regis his games at WBA and in spite of the banana throwing morons in the crowd Ron stuck with him. If you're so against the word 'N****r' stop buying rap records and punish black/brown/yellow/green people that use it daily. It's one rule for all of us, that's what equality is all about, remember?

LONG ,M
I am sure that everyone out there says things which are incorrect, disgusting and sometimes offensive in a private situation. All that has happened is "Big Ron" has been annoyed about a game of football, that he has strong feelings for, and said 1 word that was incorrect when he thought he was in a private situation. Surely Ron's 40 respectable years in 'The Game' should out weigh 1 incorrect word.

robert
I think Ron is racist. People should stop saying he had black players on his team so he is not racist. The bottom line is he bought black players because he knew they could get the job done on the field for him. It's like telling me that slave owners are not racist because they used blacks on their land.

Mog
Sounds like the guy thinks he is black. Unfortunately a lot of people think they are. I mean take a look at the state of people like Eminem and Vanilla Ice.

andrew skinner
If the word is so bad, why is it in almost ever rap song now sung? You cannot have it two ways.

Andy
If he’s the sort of person who uses language like that, on or off air, then he’s not the sort of person I think deserves to be in the privileged position of presenting an international sports programme. You don’t just come out with language like that by accident. Ron’s resigned? Good riddance.

jk
I'm half Jamaican and while I can understand everyone getting upset on the matter, I always see young black kids around my area calling the white kids n****rs and there is never any problem. I have other things to do than get upset because some guy said n****r!

Helen
I am uncomfortable that some of the contributors are stating that all English are racist - this is racist in itself. Please let's not be cast all white British as the baddies.

Carolyn B
I am absolutely disgusted, not only by his comment, but by his attitude! He states he 'didn't mean to say it out loud' and that 'he doesn't even remember saying it'. Is he implying that this disrepectful, ignorant reference to black people is so readily used by him that the impact of such a statement appears irrelevant, and the norm?! And I am not in the least bit surprised that he has resorted to the ignorant, age-old explanation that he is not a racist (ie nah, not me, my best mate's a black bloke), by justifying his 'work' with black players in the past. This in itself is racist, surely managers work with those players with the most ability regardless of the colour of their skin. I could rant all day about this!

zjhub queen
Nobody says that word accidentally. I cannot believe he is claiming it was a mistake. If the microphone had not been on would he have still resigned? I don't think so. He is only upset because he had to leave, not because he is a racist moron.

Dave
I don't think he meant it in a derogatory way. It used to be quite acceptable to say that word several decades ago, and while younger people have been brought up with more 'PC' ideas, Ron hasn't. He's resigned and done what he thinks is right. If people object to its use however, any artist who uses it should be banned or arrested under breach of the race relations act.

Will B
The words that he used at the same time - lazy, cheating, dirty are what makes it so serious, as by association he is implying that those words are true of all black people. Surely though it would be helpful if the word was less prevalent in rap, but that's more of an american issue I think.

SJ
It is a racist comment and it is right that he resigned. Desailly's colour shouldn't even have entered into the equation when talking about his laziness. I hear this kind of comment at football games, and it is blatantly meant to insult the player concerned. How pathetic that Ron says HE is "devastated", what about the people he has let down?

John Cassidy
I think the N word IS totally wrong to use and generally through fear of being called a racist hardly used nowadays. Unfortunately, modern music and film have brought the word back to the fore, and brought back by black actors and rap artists. A wrong word is a wrong word whoever uses it.

coolio
The comments made by Ron are of a seriously racist nature. The derogratory manner and context upon which the remarks were made, makes it clear that this can only intepreted as a wholly racist comment.

Andy O
When I was a black kid growing up in Scotland in the late 70s, West Bromich Albion led by Atkinson had three high profile black players in their team. These players and Atkinson were definitely role models for black kids who either wanted to attend games or play football. WBA did so much to encourage other teams to include and ultimately accept black players into professional football. I do not think Atkinson is a racist, but he is "old school" and his generation were brought up using these type of terms whether they are racist or not.

Anthony
This is increasingly becoming a dilemma especially now hiphop and rap are moving into the mainstream where black artistes frequently use this word.

Junior
I think it was a very unfortunate incident, but Ron has taken the right course of action. It's bad enough when black people use a word thats intention is to belittle us and remind us of slave connotations but for a "respected" member of the media to use it is beyond belief.

just
I doubt even a black commentator would get away with saying that on air.

C Money
As a black man who works in a mainly white dominated industry, I am not at all surprised by Ron Atkinson's comments. His only regret seems to be the fact that his mic was still switched on and it leads one to wonder if this was the first time he has made these comments.

Watty
I feel the "N" word is being used too much in modern society, the way black people use this word they're making it "trendy" for other people to use. I have no time for anyone who uses this word whether white or black.

Buzby
I don't like the N word myself, but why it is OK for black people to call each other by this name, yet not acceptable for white people to do the same?

flipper
We hear the word in rap verses all times, maybe us rappers need to change and not use the word indiscriminately. So Ron might not be racist but just another slur through frustruation.

lenuel coubleman
I dont think big ron would have meant it and i think he has done the right thing to resign so as to not make matters worse,

Paul Rooney, Glasgow.
I'm fed up with all this PC nonsense, skirting round this issue. Ron Atkison called Marcel Desailly a nigger. It's not a word you use by accident, if you say it you have a problem with black people.

Mr Man
Personally, being Asian I don't like anyone (including Blacks & Asians) using words like P*** & N*****. The problem is that these words to some extent became acceptable in the 60s and 70s when you would hear them on a regular basis on mainstream TV. Now to eliminate them from everyone's vocabulary (whether used in a racist way or not) will take decades.

naz
It's never ok to say that word - it has such derogatory meaning and the fact that artists use it so often has only made it more acceptable in society today. It offends me no matter whose mouth it comes from. Ron should never be allowed to broadcast again.

Ms Nyomie
People like Ron Atkinson will always say it was a slip up, they have to to save face. If his mic was not on then he would have got away with saying it like he has all his life. This just proves that no matter how far our people get, no matter how much they achieve THEY will always see us as N****RS.

Big Wilz
That word will never be anything else but pure racism.

Chantelle
If you have never used a word before and do not surround yourself around people who do use it then the word should not pass your lips! If he never thought Marcel was a N****r he wouldn't say it. He should not have been given the option to resign he should have been fired on the spot.

phil hadds
generally, white people shouldnt use the 'n' word - because it is a remnant of a racist past. i don't think big ron is a racist though - he is just old and eccentric.