Roy Hodgson has been forced into a
bizarre apology after making a ‘monkey’ joke during his half-time team
talk on Tuesday at Wembley.
Hodgson used the joke as he attempted to explain to right back Chris Smalling that he wanted to get the ball to Andros Townsend more often after the break during the World Cup qualifier.
But Townsend tweeted on Thursday morning to insist that 'no offence' had been meant by Hodgson or taken by him.
Townsend tweeted: 'I don't know
what all this fuss is about. No offence was meant and none was taken!
It's not even news worthy!'
England’s head coach is believed to have upset an unnamed player in the dressing room during the 2-0 win over Poland that secured England’s World Cup place.
The FA have confirmed that Hodgson did make the remarks, but are disappointed that it has been interpreted by some as a racial slur or innuendo.
Hodgson said on Wednesday night: ‘I would like to apologise if any offence has been caused by what I said at half-time.
‘There was absolutely no intention on my part to say anything inappropriate.
‘I made this clear straight away to Andros in the dressing room. I also spoke to Andros again on Wednesday.
‘He has assured me and the FA he did not take any offence and understood the point I was making in the manner I intended.’
England’s head coach is furious and
insists it was an analogy about NASA sending a monkey into space and
cannot be interpreted in any other way.
Townsend has been spoken to by the FA and insists he has no issue with the joke.
His father Troy works for the Kick It Out campaign and is believed to have discussed the issue with his son.
Hodgson is understood to be distraught by any attempt to smear his name after successfully leading England to the World Cup finals on Tuesday.
Although he is known for lengthy team talks to his players at times, Hodgson’s decision to make an attempt to tell a joke at the break does seem unusual. The 66-year-old is a man of vast experience but is dealing with a much younger dressing-room in a modern climate.
Goalscorer Wayne Rooney jumped to
Hodgson's defence on Thursday morning, he tweeted: 'Seen the story on
roy this morning. He done nothing wrong. This is ridiculous.'
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce did not think that it was an issue.
He said: We are a politically correct country and we have to be careful about what we say today. But if we continue to wipe it up and promote everything in the press, nobody will be able to say a word shortly.
'We'll have to keep ourselves quiet and not express opinions. We shouldn't be saying anything wrong but you have to be very careful today. I'm sure with what Roy said he didn't mean any offence or any harm.'
Former England international Stan Collymore, meanwhile, insisted the joke makes no reference to race.
'If Roy has said that phrase in the dressing room then it is in the context of the story,' he told talkSPORT.
'People are walking on egg shells, worried about everything they say. Why would the word "monkey" have a racist feel for someone in the dressing room, or any player? I can’t see the link, can you?
'We’ve all got the right to feel offence, but this is really spurious. What are you actually offended by? The word "monkey"? I don’t see any reference to race. You have to look at the big picture.
'Is Roy Hodgson, from what we know of him over the last 30-40 years, the sort of man to go out of his way to be stupid enough to cause offence? I would say no.'
Hodgson used the joke as he attempted to explain to right back Chris Smalling that he wanted to get the ball to Andros Townsend more often after the break during the World Cup qualifier.
But Townsend tweeted on Thursday morning to insist that 'no offence' had been meant by Hodgson or taken by him.
Apology: England manager Roy Hodgson has
apologised for making a joke about a monkey during the team's World Cup
qualifier against Poland on Tuesday night
Nonplussed: Andros Townsend tweeted to say there was no offence meant or taken
Good show: Townsend put in a good performance against Montenegro before he was substituted
England’s head coach is believed to have upset an unnamed player in the dressing room during the 2-0 win over Poland that secured England’s World Cup place.
The FA have confirmed that Hodgson did make the remarks, but are disappointed that it has been interpreted by some as a racial slur or innuendo.
Hodgson said on Wednesday night: ‘I would like to apologise if any offence has been caused by what I said at half-time.
‘There was absolutely no intention on my part to say anything inappropriate.
‘I made this clear straight away to Andros in the dressing room. I also spoke to Andros again on Wednesday.
‘He has assured me and the FA he did not take any offence and understood the point I was making in the manner I intended.’
Clash: The joke came in a half-time team-talk during the crunch game at Wembley Stadium
SO WHAT WAS THE JOKE?
The joke, which is believed to have been told in full at half-time, is as follows.
‘NASA decided they would finally send a man up in an capsule after sending only monkeys in the earlier missions.
‘They fire the man and the monkey into space.’
‘The intercom crackles “fire the retros”.
‘A little later, “Monkey, check the solid fuel supply’
‘Later still “Monkey, check the life support systems for the man”.
‘The astronaut takes umbrage and radios NASA. “When do I get something”.’
‘NASA replied – in 15 minutes, feed the monkey.’
‘NASA decided they would finally send a man up in an capsule after sending only monkeys in the earlier missions.
‘They fire the man and the monkey into space.’
‘The intercom crackles “fire the retros”.
‘A little later, “Monkey, check the solid fuel supply’
‘Later still “Monkey, check the life support systems for the man”.
‘The astronaut takes umbrage and radios NASA. “When do I get something”.’
‘NASA replied – in 15 minutes, feed the monkey.’
Townsend has been spoken to by the FA and insists he has no issue with the joke.
His father Troy works for the Kick It Out campaign and is believed to have discussed the issue with his son.
Hodgson is understood to be distraught by any attempt to smear his name after successfully leading England to the World Cup finals on Tuesday.
Although he is known for lengthy team talks to his players at times, Hodgson’s decision to make an attempt to tell a joke at the break does seem unusual. The 66-year-old is a man of vast experience but is dealing with a much younger dressing-room in a modern climate.
Success: The England team secured their passage to next year's World Cup in Brazil by the 2-0 victory
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce did not think that it was an issue.
He said: We are a politically correct country and we have to be careful about what we say today. But if we continue to wipe it up and promote everything in the press, nobody will be able to say a word shortly.
'We'll have to keep ourselves quiet and not express opinions. We shouldn't be saying anything wrong but you have to be very careful today. I'm sure with what Roy said he didn't mean any offence or any harm.'
Former England international Stan Collymore, meanwhile, insisted the joke makes no reference to race.
'If Roy has said that phrase in the dressing room then it is in the context of the story,' he told talkSPORT.
'People are walking on egg shells, worried about everything they say. Why would the word "monkey" have a racist feel for someone in the dressing room, or any player? I can’t see the link, can you?
'We’ve all got the right to feel offence, but this is really spurious. What are you actually offended by? The word "monkey"? I don’t see any reference to race. You have to look at the big picture.
'Is Roy Hodgson, from what we know of him over the last 30-40 years, the sort of man to go out of his way to be stupid enough to cause offence? I would say no.'
Star: The remark came as Hodgson urged players to pass to up-and-coming star Townsend
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