Football Association chairman Greg Clarke steps down hours after apology for reference to black players

A statement from the FA said: "We can confirm that Greg Clarke has stepped down from his role as our chairman. Peter McCormick will step into the role as interim FA Chairman with immediate effect and the FA Board will begin the process of identifying and appointing a new chair in due course."

Clarke's own statement said he had already been considering his position for some time.

"As a person who loves football and has given decades of service to our game, it is right that I put the interests of football first," he said.

"2020 has been a challenging year and I have been actively considering standing down for some time to make way for a new Chair now our CEO transition is complete and excellent executive leadership under Mark Bullingham is established.

"My unacceptable words in front of Parliament were a disservice to our game and to those who watch, play, referee and administer it. This has crystallised my resolve to move on.

I am deeply saddened that I have offended those diverse communities in football that I and others worked so hard to include. I would like to thank my friends and colleagues in the game for the wisdom and counsel they have shared over the years and resign from the FA with immediate effect."

Clarke issued an apology through the FA earlier in the day, having been challenged for a reference to black players when discussing diversity with MPs.

A spokesperson said: "Greg Clarke is deeply apologetic for the language he used to reference members of the ethnic minority community during the select committee hearing today. He acknowledged that using the term ‘coloured’ is not appropriate and wholeheartedly apologised during the hearing."

Clarke was appearing in front of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee via video link and was promoted to apologise by MP Kevin Brennan, who said the language would not encourage inclusion.

Quality charity Kick it Out criticised Clarke's remark, as well as others he made in reference to people from South Asia, gay players and women footballers.

Sanjay Bhandari, executive chair at Kick It Out, said: "I was particularly concerned by the use of lazy racist stereotypes about South Asians and their supposed career preferences. It reflects similar lazy stereotypes I have heard have been spouted at club academy level.

"Being gay is not a 'life choice' as he claimed too. The casual sexism of saying 'girls' do not like balls hit at them hard, is staggering from anyone, let alone the leader of our national game. It is completely unacceptable."