Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has been forced to resign over the use of unacceptable language while speaking via video link to members of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee.

While talking about diversity and racial abuse against black players, Clarke had used the term “coloured footballers” stereotyped south Asians and Afro-Caribbean people as possessing “different career interests” and described homosexuality as a “life choice” during the hearing organised to examine why the game had collectively failed to agree a financial rescue package for the lower leagues.

The 63-year-old issued a statement afterwards: “As a person who loves football and has given decades of service to our game, it is right that I put the interests of football first.

“2020 has been a challenging year and I have been actively considering standing down for some time ukto make way for a new Chair now our CEO transition is complete and excellent executive leadership under Mark Bullingham is established.

“My unacceptable words in front of Parliament were a disservice to our game and to those who watch, play, referee and administer it. This has crystallised my resolve to move on. 

“I am deeply saddened that I have offended those diverse communities in football that I and others worked so hard to include. 

“I would like to thank my friends and colleagues in the game for the wisdom and counsel they have shared over the years and resign from the FA with immediate effect.”

The English Football Association are expected to outsource their recruitment of Greg Clarke’s successor as chairperson and will finalise their hiring process in the coming days with the aim of making a relatively quick appointment.