Malky Mackay has apologised for the "completely unacceptable" texts he sent during his time as Cardiff City manager but insisted: "I'm no racist, I'm no sexist, I'm no homophobe, I'm not antisemitic."

The allegations of racist, homophobic and sexist messages, along with information about transfers at Cardiff, were sent to the FA in a dossier compiled by the club's owner Vincent Tan, alleging serious misconduct by him and his former technical director Iain Moody.

But in an interview with Sky Sports News, Mackay said: “The texts are things I absolutely have to deal with and explain. Out of 10,000 texts in and out of someone’s phone I sent three. That being the case, they are complete unacceptable and for any offence I apologise for that. There’s no excuse for that.

“I did it in a period when I was under intense pressure. Relationships were not going too well at the club at the time. But that should not have happened.

“I’m a human being and I made a mistake. I would humbly ask people to ask themselves if their own mobile was taken and every message scrutinised, would there be embarrassing texts.

“I’ve been in a multi-cultural football environment for 20 years and I’m no racist. I’m no sexist, I’m no homophobe, I’m not antisemitic. The people who know me, know that.”

On the FA’s investigation into transfer dealings Mackay insisted he had nothing to fear. “The investigation will show I have no wrongdoing with transfers,” he added.

Guardian Service