Premier League chief Sir Dave Richards: Yorkshire roots to blame for rant

Richards's apology came following his controversial remarks at a conference in Qatar on Wednesday - an outburst which the Premier League and Football Association moved quickly to distance themselves from.

Having made a splash at the meeting he then capped a forgettable day by falling into a water feature at an evening function.

After issuing an initial statement of apology he then followed that up on Thursday by blaming his background for his outspoken tendencies.

He said: "I'd like to clarify something - I am a Yorkshireman and I am quite broad and if I say something it can be taken out of a little bit of context. I was asked about the heritage of the game, I would never want to offend Fifa or Uefa.

"I used a word which was, looking back, probably inappropriate but it is the way I am.

"I just want to say I apologise, it was a comment that probably another person would not have made but I am a little bit broad and I accept that."

Speaking at the International Sport Security Conference, Richards had said: "For 50 years, we owned the game, we were the governance of the game. We wrote the rules and designed the pitches.

"Then, 50 years later, some guy came along and said you're liars and they actually stole it. It was called Fifa. Fifty years later, another gang came along called Uefa and stole a bit more."

Richards also went on to chide his hosts for the potential lack of booze at World Cup 2022 in Qatar before falling into the fountain pool at a Doha hotel. Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, who was with Richards at the time, later denied that Richards had been drinking.