Sky Sports host David Jones has apologised for intervening during Gary Neville’s post-match discussion on the alleged racist abuse Antonio Rudiger suffered while playing against Tottenham.

Rudiger, the Chelsea defender, indicated that he he had been subjected to monkey chants during the second half of the 2-0 defeat of Spurs on Sunday.

Referee Anthony Taylor stopped the game after being made aware of the abuse by Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta, and three announcements were made in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium reminding fans there is ‘no place for racism in the game’.

"We have to empower the players to walk off the pitch and stop the entertainment while it's happening." The Super Sunday panel discuss the incident of alleged racism in the second half of Tottenham vs Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/mgEw0NlT7F — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 22, 2019

Discussing the incident after the game, Neville was praised by the likes of Ian Wright, Gary Lineker and shadow chancellor John McDonnell for pointing out football’s racism problem extends to UK politics and that the Premier League needs to do more in the fight against discrimination.

“We have a racism problem in the Premier League in England,” said Neville. “The Premier League have got to stand up. They hide behind the FA on this issue in my opinion.

“They push their disciplinary and other issues over to the FA.

“We have just had a General Election in this country where the leaders of both main parties are accused constantly over the past month of fuelling racism and accepting racism in their parties.

“If it is accepted in the highest office in the country then we aren’t talking at a micro level, we are talking at an enormous level.”

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Following Neville’s speech, Jones added, ‘I am compelled to say they are the views of you, Gary Neville, and not those of Sky Sports, that is my duty’, which left the Manchester United legend looking stunned.

“Do you not agree with me, Dave?” Neville asked, to which Jones replied: “Whether I do or I don’t is completely irrelevant, I’m here to try and hold a balanced debate.”

Neville countered: “That was balanced.”

Jones was roundly criticised on social media afterwards for his comments and the act of distancing Sky Sports from Neville’s opinion.

He later apologised ‘unreservedly’ for interjecting during the broadcast.

“I’m so sorry to have spoiled what was such an important discussion on racism tonight,” wrote Jones on Twitter. “I had to intervene when Gary suggested the two main political parties were to blame – I didn’t make that clear enough. For that I apologise unreservedly.

I would never purposefully shut down a discussion on racism. I’ve worked for Sky for over 20 years and know they share my view that racism of any kind should not be tolerated. That is not a debate. And that’s why I’m so very disappointed and sorry tonight. — DAVID JONES (@DavidJonesSky) December 22, 2019

“I would never purposefully shut down a discussion on racism. I’ve worked for Sky for over 20 years and know they share my view that racism of any kind should not be tolerated. That is not a debate. And that’s why I’m so very disappointed and sorry tonight.”