Football pundit Ron Atkinson has resigned from ITV Sport after making a racist comment off-air following Tuesday's game between Chelsea and Monaco, a spokesman for the channel said last night.

Atkinson was said to be "devastated and very sorry" for any offence caused and offered his resignation immediately.

The spokesman said: "We do not in any way condone the comments in question, which were not broadcast as part of ITV's coverage but were made in an off-air conversation after the game.

"It was a regrettable lapse by a respected and experienced broadcaster who has been part of the ITV sports team for many years."

Atkinson was believed to have made the remark in a conversation with fellow ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley.

The comment was understood to have been directed at Chelsea's Marcel Desailly, who is black.

Atkinson is believed to have called the defender a "f***ing lazy nigger".

It its thought the comments were broadcast by channels in the Middle East where the live feed had continued to run after full-time.

Last night, the 65-year-old former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager insisted that his track record in football, particularly in introducing black players while manager at West Bromwich Albion, proved that he was not a racist.

He said: "I made a stupid mistake which I regret it left me no option but to resign. At the moment I can't believe I did it. It was just a moment of stupidity.

"I was very frustrated at the end of the game because I thought Chelsea could have won. I regret making the comment and I apologise to anyone I may have offended."

Piara Powar, director of football's anti-racism campaign Kick It Out, said: "It is always disappointing to hear someone of his stature make the type of comment that he has.

"I have to say, regardless of his record, that sort of terminology is just simply out of bounds.

"We are not interested in running a political correctness campaign, but there are certain things in 2004 which should not be uttered.

"The term 'nigger' is one of the most offensive terms you can use to describe a black person, so I don't see what choice he has other than to resign."

However, Mr Powar stressed that it was important to acknowledge that Atkinson had a good record of working with black players.

A spokeswoman for the Commission for Racial Equality said: "Obviously, it's disappointing that someone in a position such as his should make those comments, but he has resigned - he has done the right thing."

In addition to his TV work. Atkinson writes a weekly football column for The Guardian newspaper.

In a statement last night, the newspaper said: "We take this matter extremely seriously and will be talking to Ron Atkinson at the earliest opportunity."