Desailly has pity but no forgiveness for Big Ron

Marcel Desailly broke his long silence on the 'Big Ron' affair yesterday by offering disgraced television pundit Ron Atkinson pity but no forgiveness.

The former Chelsea and France captain said on his arrival in Portugal for tonight's Laureus World Sports Awards:

'I see the apology (in the newspaper) but I feel sorry for him.'

Asked whether he was prepared to forgive Atkinson, Desailly said: 'I don't forgive; I don't agree. It just happened. If he has done a mistake, he is going to pay for it. But I am out of the thing. I don't have eyes on it.'

Although Desailly speaks excellent English, an element of interpretation is required in a strict reading of his words. It was clear that the black player - the victim of Atkinson's racist slur - was leaning away from rage and towards the 'silly old duffer' reaction to Atkinson's description of Desailly at the end of Chelsea's semifinal, first-leg defeat in Monaco last month as a 'lazy f****** n*****'.

Atkinson thought his microphone was off when television viewers in the Middle East heard the remark last month.

The former Manchester United manager was sacked from his £200,000-a-year job and forced to relinquish a column with a national newspaper.

Desailly said he had not spoken to Atkinson since the incident. He said: 'I have seen in the newspapers that he tried to talk to me but ... no, I didn't have contact with him.

'I understand that maybe he was motivated from the result, that he was unhappy and he said things. It can happen. I do not have anger against him.'