The BBC football commentator, John Motson, has been defending himself over remarks he made suggesting that it was difficult to tell black players apart.

Motson, a BBC commentator for more than two decades, was asked on Radio 5's Sportsweek programme on Sunday if there were often players who looked alike. He replied: "There are indeed, often more than two players in some cases."

He continued: "There are teams where you have got players who, from a distance, look almost identical. And, of course, with more black players coming in to the game, they would not mind me saying that that can be very confusing."

However, politicians from all parties immediately queued up to condemn his gaffe.

• Richard Allan, Liberal Democrat community affairs spokesman and MP for Sheffield Hallam, said such attitudes were wrong and outdated. "It is unfortunate that with so many of our top sports personalities coming from the ethnic communities and doing so well flying the flag for Britain we still suffer from these racial stereotypes."
• Asian MP, Keith Vaz, said he was "astonished" by the remarks and called on Mr Motson to apologise. Mr Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East, said: "Far from adding to confusion, the arrival of black players in British football has greatly enhanced the game."
• Tim Collins, chair of the Conservative back-bench committee on culture, media and sport, said racism was no more acceptable because it was unintentional. Mr Collins, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Cumbria, said: "There can be no place for racism or implied racism in British football."

The Commission for Racial Equality declined to comment on the row.
 

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