FORMER Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber has reportedly apologised for suggesting some black players, including Raheem Sterling, could have ended up in jail had they not become successful footballers.

Webber’s remarks, made to the Pink-Un newspaper, were criticised by Troy Townsend of Kick It Out, who branded them an “absolute disgrace.”

Townsend wrote on Twitter: “Former Norwich City sporting director casually racially profiling current and former NCFC players. Football or jail it is then? Absolute disgrace!”

According to Sky Sports, Webber has now contacted the players and their families to apologise.

In the interview, Webber, who left the Canaries in November, said: “We want to help the guys who really need it, not the ones who are maybe privileged.

“I saw that with our young footballers. Jonny Rowe wouldn’t mind me saying it but him, Abu Kamara, Max (Aarons), Jamal (Lewis), Raheem (Sterling) back in the day at Liverpool, where they come from it had to work out for them in football, because the alternative is potentially jail or something else.”

Aarons’s mother Amber also wrote: “I’m shocked at Stuart Webber’s casual racism and blatant disrespect for all of these black players and their families.”

Kick It Out said it would be contacting Norwich to ask for their observations.

A statement from the anti-discrimination campaigner read: “The comments made by former Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber where he has resorted to racially profiling several players in an interview are deeply offensive and concerning.

“To read such callous language being used by someone who until recently was a senior executive at the top of the English game paints a very damning picture.

“Resorting to lazy stereotyping is clearly upsetting for those who have been targeted, but also shows a complete lack of respect for their families, who have played a huge part in the journeys that the players have been on.

“We will be contacting Norwich City for their observations.”