Derby County player Max Lowe has has spoken out against ignorant comments made by pundit Craig Ramage on BBC Radio Derby, who suggested "young black lads" should "go back to basics, working hard".
Ex-Rams midfielder Ramage was speaking on the Sportscene Podcast after their 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town, with Lowe and fellow full-back Jayden Bogle recent performances called out by the pundit.
During the broadcast, Ramage, who the BBC confirmed would no longer work with the corporation, said: "When I look at certain players, their body language, their stance, the way they act, you just feel, hold on a minute, he needs pulling down a peg or two.
"So I'd probably say that about all the young black lads, all the young advice if they wanted it, that, you know, it's about, when you are struggling for form, you are going through a sticky patch, it's about going back to basics, working hard, and doing the right things."
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Lowe, 22, then responded on his social media by calling out Ramage's "racial ignorance, stereotyping and intolerance" in his comments.
Taking to his Instagram to share a well-written statement, Lowe said: "As a young black footballer making my way in the game, I was shocked by comments made by one of the analysts on BBC Radio Derby's Sportscene programme after our 1-1 draw with Huddersfield."
He continued: "Racial ignorance, stereotyping and intolerance negatively affects the image of impressionable young footballers and creates an unnecessary divide in society.
"I am also disappointed that a public service broadcaster did not step in to ask the analyst to explain his reasoning or to distance themselves from these archaic thoughts.
"This was a broadcast at the same time BBC Derby is promoting a 27-minute feature with former Rams defender Charlie Palmer about the difficulties he faced as a young black footballer in the 1980s."
He added that "as a professional footballer at an ambitious, high-profile Championship club I know that my performances will be scrutinised and I have no problem with that whatsoever, but I do not think it is acceptable for myself and my team-mate Jayden Bogle to be judged by the colour of our skin"."
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The BBC said the comments were "entirely unacceptable" before stating that they will "no longer be working with Craig.”
Ramage publicly apologised on Twitter, saying: "What I said was wholly inappropriate and unintentional. Race is irrelevant to the issues that I was discussing and I deeply regret what I said. I sincerely hope that the players accept my apology."