Former Reading and Stoke City striker Dave Kitson has apologised for comments he made about Raheem Sterling.
Kitson spoke about the Manchester City forward when he was racially abused during a game against Chelsea in 2018.
He had criticised how Sterling used social media to show off his lavish lifestyle.
Now after putting his hand up to become the PFA's new chief executive, Kitson has apologised for the comments.
He told TheMirror: "I'd looked down Raheem's social media feed and that, while in the beginning it was about his cars and houses, I was pleased to see he had changed it, because there is a lot of jealousy out there, and I knew what it was like to have been on the end of unwarranted abuse.
"I said that it gave people a reason to dislike him as a person.
"Not that he had done anything wrong on his social media account but it gave certain people a platform to vent their ill-informed, ugly views.
"But I'm distressed that this has somehow morphed into a suggestion I condoned the shocking abuse Raheem suffered or that he otherwise asked for it. Nothing could be further from the truth.
"Perhaps I used clumsy language and for that I apologise.
"But I never have and never will condone any form of racism.
"I admire Raheem for taking up the fight and saying: 'No, I'm not having this.' And I agree with him.
"More needs to be done. And I'm prepared to do it."