by Our Sports Desk

CARDIFF called for League Managers Association chief Richard Bevan’s head yesterday after the LMA dismissed a series of racist, sexist and homophobic text messages as “banter.”

The Welsh club has released a chain of insulting messages allegedly sent between axed Cardiff manager Malky Mackay and former head of recruitment Iain Moody.

But the LMA added to the outrage in issuing a nominal apology to anyone who may have been offended.

The statement late on Thursday read: “These were two text messages sent in private at a time Malky felt under great pressure and when he was letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text-message banter.”

The body further added that “it may not be a complete surprise” that “inappropriate” comments are made within 10,000 text messages and 70,000 documents.

Yesterday, the LMA withdrew some of the wording in its statement, saying it had “been perceived to trivialise matters of a racist, sexist or homophobic nature.”

But the damage was done, with Cardiff finding it “entirely reprehensible” that the LMA had put out the statement dismissing the texts as “friendly banter” in the first place.

“If that is the view held by the LMA, as appears from its statement, we consider that Richard Bevan’s position is untenable and we call for his resignation,” said the club.

Anti-discrimination campaigns have lined up to slam the grotesque stream of messages.

The Gay Football Supporters Network said it was “particularly disappointing” that the LMA dismissed the messages.

“For some time now the GFSN has called for zero-tolerance towards homophobia and transphobia in football,” it said.

“There is no place in football for discriminatory banter of any kind as banter still has the effect of ridiculing or diminishing minorities.”

But QPR manager Harry Redknapp stuck his head above the parapet to defend the ex-Cardiff boss.

“I’m not condoning what he has done but show me someone who has never made a mistake and I will show you a liar,” he said.

“He hasn’t murdered anyone, he hasn’t raped anyone and he is not a paedophile.”

Redknapp’s bizarre intervention drew swift rebuke from anti-racism campaign Kick It Out.

“What he has said has no benefit at all. I don’t know what is in Harry’s head when he is saying that,” said the group’s Troy Townsend.

‘‘What Harry has said shows a lack of understanding about the situation. These are really sensitive issues and you have to respect the reasons behind them. He’s almost saying ‘it ain’t that bad is it?’ but unfortunately for some people it is.”

Former Professional Footballers Association chairman Clark Carlisle, who played with Mackay at Watford, said the ex-Cardiff boss had to “face the consequences.”

He said: “You will struggle to find anybody in the industry who has worked with or played against Malky who has a bad word to say about him.

“But everybody has to separate their opinions as Malky as an individual from the severity of the issue.”