Malky Mackay apologises for being disrespectful of other cultures.
Former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has apologised for the offensive text messages sent to Iain Moody whilst the pair were employed at Cardiff, report BBC Sport, through a statement released by the League Managers Association.
News had come to light of offensive messages of a homophobic, racist and sexist nature that were shared by Mackay and Moody whilst the latter was employed as head of recruitment in South Wales, after they were unearthed during an investigation into supposed financial irregularities during Moody’s time at Cardiff.
Moody has resigned as sporting director at Crystal Palace, meanwhile, the club where Mackay had been favourite to rejoin his old workmate as manager following last week’s departure of manager Tony Pulis.
Mackay apologised for sending text messages that were “disrespectful” of other cultures, although the LMA statement also suggests that the messages made up a very small number of the 70,000 that had been recovered as part of the investigation.
He does, however, deny having sent any of the homophobic or sexist messages that had also been attributed to either himself or Moody, whilst the LMA suggested that his indiscretions may have been as a result of the immense pressure that a football manager working somewhere such as Cardiff City may be under.
“In the course of a search by the club in early 2014 of 10,000 private text messages sent to and from another member of staff during Mr Mackay’s employment at Cardiff, in relation to other matters, it emerged that Malky had, it seems, sent a couple of one-line texts that were, with the benefit of hindsight, very regrettable and disrespectful of other cultures.”
“The LMA does not condone in any way any potential breach of equal opportunities laws but would also point out that out of more than 10,000 text messages and 70,000 documents produced over a long period of time it may not be a complete surprise that some inappropriate comments can sometimes be made by employees, like Malky, working under great pressure in highly-charged situations.”
“Malky is also very concerned about seriously inaccurate and misleading reports of his alleged involvement in these matters in the media. It has never been alleged that he wrote any homophobic or sexist messages and he has confirmed that he did not do so.”
“Further, there are incorrect and damaging suggestions that he sent a whole host of offensive and unpleasant messages that are simply not true and which give a grossly distorted and unfair view of Malky’s involvement in this matter.”