A letter of complaint from a pressure group has been sent to the Football Association demanding that England boss Roy Hodgson attend a “race appreciation” training course after details of his “monkey” joke were made public.

Peter Herbert, the head of the Society of Black Lawyers who also runs the new Race For Sport organisation, sent a four-page letter of complaint to the FA, saying the organisation was wrong to declare the matter closed.

Hodgson, who apologised if any offence was caused, has expressed his frustration and anger that his side’s achievement in reaching the World Cup earlier this week has been overshadowed by the details of the joke he told in the dressing room at half-time against Poland.