Sergio Garcia / Tiger Woods 'fried chicken' racism row takes fresh twist after 'coloured athletes' comment

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady immediately apologises for causing offence

George O'Grady with Sergio Garcia outside the Rules Office (GETTY IMAGES)

The racism row involving Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods took a fresh twist today following comments from European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.

When discussing the decision not to sanction Garcia, O'Grady used the phrase "coloured athletes".

It came after Garcia issued an unreserved apology after suggesting at the Tour's annual dinner on Tuesday night he would serve Woods with fried chicken if he came to dinner.

During a Q&A session involving the full Ryder Cup team hosted by the Golf Channel's Steve Sands, Garcia was asked if he would invite Woods to dinner one night during the upcoming US Open to settle their differences, which resurfaced at the Players Championship this month.

"We will have him round every night," Garcia said. "We will serve fried chicken."

The European Tour has been criticised for accepting Garcia's apology and considering the matter closed, with O'Grady telling Sky Sports today: "There's absolutely no cosiness about this at all.

"We take this very seriously as does he. He's convinced us just how seriously he takes it and that's why we've had to draw a line under this thing.

"Any hint of this feeling has no place on the European Tour, all races play on the European Tour and that's how we're going to keep it. That's how we want to be.

"Most of Sergio's friends happen to be coloured athletes in the United States, he is absolutely abject in his apology and we accepted it."

O'Grady has now apologised.

He said: "I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview for Sky Sports, for which I unreservedly apologise."

Woods responded to the remark by Garcia via his Twitter account: "The comment that was made wasn't silly," Woods wrote. "It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate. I'm confident that there is real regret that the remark was made."

In December 2011, BBC pundit Alan Hansen issued an apology for twice using the word "coloured" to describe black footballers on Match of the Day when discussing the John Terry and Luis Suarez racism cases.