Apology over racist comment

Jason Bent said the apology was accepted

Port Vale have apologised to Plymouth Argyle for the incident in which Argyle player Jason Bent was subjected to a racist comment by Andreas Lipa.

Austrian international Lipa has written to Bent expressing his "profound regret" for the comments he made to him during Saturday's match, which were said "in the heat of the moment" and regretted immediately.

The club said: "(Lipa) wished he could turn the clock back as he is in no way racist and totally supports the major drive within football to drive out all racist abuse."

Port Vale fined Lipa one week's wages which will be donated to the Charity Kick it Out! and Plymouth Argyle's Argyle Against Racism charity.

Canadian international Bent has confirmed that in the light of that action he accepts the apology and does not wish to take the matter any further.

Argyle earlier said they were "disappointed and saddened" about the incident, which came towards the end of Argyle's 5-1 victory at Vale Park.