Hot water: Glenn Hoddle's remarks have resulted in
uproar
Glenn Hoddle has apologised for the inappropriate
'joke' he made as he provided co-commentary during Monday night's
clash between Fulham
and Chelsea.
The former England manager embarrassed employers Sky after
he responded to the sight of Fernando Torres squandering a
goalscoring opportunity in the 0-0 draw.
During the encounter, Twitter was swamped with reaction to
Hoddle jokingly comparing Chelsea’s out-of-form £50million signing
to the ‘Chinese player Knee Shin Toe’.
'I can only apologise to those who took offence,' Hoddle
said today. 'There's no excuse. It's an old football expression and
I understand I can't say things like that.'
Hoddle was employed as a replacement for the disgraced
Andy Gray, who was sacked by the broadcaster last month for sexist
remarks.
Hoddle caused a major storm when he gave an interview in 1999,
claiming that the disabled are being punished for something in a
previous life.
‘You and I have been physically
given two hands and two legs and half-decent brains,’ he said.
‘Some people have not been born like that for a reason. The karma
is working from another lifetime. I have nothing to hide about
that. It is not only people with disabilities. What you sow, you
have to reap.’
Tony Blair, then the Prime
Minister, was among those who heavily criticised Hoddle and the FA
responded by sacking him soon afterwards.