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

"Big Ron" was said to be "devastated and very sorry" for any offence caused and offered his resignation to his ITV bosses 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.

"We have discussed the situation with Ron Atkinson, who is devastated and very sorry for any offence caused by his comments.

"He immediately offered his resignation which we have accepted."

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

The remark 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.

The 65-year-old former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager admitted last night he had made an error that left him little option but to leave his job.

But he insisted that his 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. 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 comments and I apologise to anyone I may have offended."