Former Cardiff City star apologizes after calling Asian team-mate a 'dirty P***'

Former Cardiff City defender Jack Simpson has issued a public apology and spoken of his hopes that his professional career is not over after being banned for racially abusing a former teammate.

Simpson, who also previously played for Bournemouth and Rangers, was hit with a six-game ban and £8,000 fine after calling Rohan Luthra ‘a dirty P***’ during Cardiff’s pre-season tour of Portugal.

Luthra made history earlier this year when he became the first goalkeeper from Britain’s South Asian community to appear in the EFL.

Following the incident Simpson told one of his teammates who witnessed it: 'I'm so stupid. I don't know why I said that. My girlfriend is from that country as well.'

The incident was reported in the days after Cardiff’s return, Simpson had his contract terminated by mutual consent in August and has been without a club since.

Simpson received his punishment last week following a hearing in which he admitted the FA charge against him.

He said in a statement on Tuesday: ‘I wish to apologise publicly and unreservedly for the racist remark I made to Rohan Luthra on July 23. I have done so in private and it is important now, after the publication of the Football Association commission decision into the matter, that I do so publicly to Rohan and all those who are rightly hurt by the nature of my comment.

‘I stand against racism in all forms and what was said on that day does not, I believe, reflect my beliefs or my character.

‘I hope this message conveys how strongly I feel about my mistake and how intend to own it, and emerge as a better person. I love the game and I hope to play it again professionally.’