It's the Champions' League Semi-final 2004; Chelsea had conceded two goals in the final twelve minutes conceding to a Monaco team down to 10 men. Chelsea had been beaten 3-1 in the first leg and this should have been the top news story but, ITV chief summariser, Ron Atkinson, was about to reduce one of the biggest matches of European football to a "footnote". Ron had been broadcasting to Britain over the air waves but he did not note that the microphones were still ON! He was transmitting over a "feed" to Middle Eastern Countries, including Egypt and Dubai. It was at this moment that he decided to deliver his verdict on the poor perfiormance of Chelsea's defender Marcel Desailly. "He is what is known in some "schools as a f***ing lazy n****r", Atkinson stated, proving that he was not too smart himself.
Needless to say, a "storm" ensued, causing Atkinson to resign from the job with ITV and also leave his column with the Guardian newspaper, which went under the title of "Big Ron's Chalkboard". "I made a stupid mistake", said Ron, "which I regret. It left me no other option but to resign. At the mkoment I can't believe I did it." Several months later, on a BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary, "What Ron said!", examining his attitude to race. In this, he claimed he had "over-apologised" for making some "alleged marks. I might be an idot but I am not racist!" was his self-defence!
At a function at Hillsborough later in January 2005, the "non-racist" Atkinson had the audience rolling in the aisles when he saif "The Chinese people have the best contraception in the World, becaus their women are so ugly....." The joke, as ever was on "Big Ron".
He is currently active in the After Dinner Speakers circuit and also works for MUTV, Manchester United's own television channel anda pundit on William Hill's podcast, The Punt. While he retired from football management in 1996, he continues to be involved in the sport through media and speaking engagements. He also spends time in Tenerife.
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