The Channel Seven Sunrise panel was left stunned after host David Koch appeared to make a "joke" about slavery during a segment on Jamaican-born athlete Usain Bolt.

The on-air gaffe occurred as sports reporter Mark Beretta was reading a story - alongside co-host Sam Armytage, Natalie Barr and Koch - following reports Olympic legend Bolt could leave the Central Coast Mariners Football Club.

“So the Mariners sell him for money, they make a lot of money out of it?” Koch asked.

“It’s a win-win: You keep him, great. You sell him, so be it. That’s the tough world of professional football,” Beretta said.

“Who said slavery was over — anyway. No,” Koch said, before quickly changing the topic.

The camera quickly cut away as Natalie Barr looked on in distaste.

The Mariners can't actually sell Bolt to another club because the sprint legend hasn't signed a contract with the football club.

"Kochie" later doubled down on the gaffe via Twitter saying it was an error.

But social media users were quick to jump on the "joke".

‘My slavery joke wasn’t racist, it was an administrative error’.



There you go Kochie, I fixed it for you 👍 https://t.co/JxLJ71fzCx — Pearson In The Wind (@LukeLPearson) October 16, 2018

Seriously @kochie_online that was a pretty bad slip up, even for you. Maybe time to keep your gaffs to yourself. #sunrise @SevenNetwork — Ann B Harrison (@AnnBHarrison) October 15, 2018

Did Koshi just use the word "slavery" 😳 after talking about Mariners Usain Bolt possibility of UK soccer interests wanting him to play in UK? @sunriseon7 Nat's stunned facial expression suggests yes! — BobbieAnt (@bobbieskates) October 15, 2018

Just watched 10 seconds of @sunriseon7 and Kochie nearly blurted out some kind of slavery joke? What the hell dude? — generic doe (@genericjoesmith) October 15, 2018

Kochie, what was the end of your joke? "Who said slavery was...."? @sunriseon7 — Postyrus (@postyrus) October 15, 2018

Koch took to Twitter to clarify his comment and said it was a reference he used for sportsmen and women who "want to trade clubs or change jobs in sport" that clubs can't keep them.

1/2 On @sunriseon7 this We were talking about how good it is for Bolt and the Mariners at news he was getting offers from European clubs.

Basically the use of the word slavery is a reference I’ve used to defend players who want to trade clubs or change jobs in Sport... — David Koch (@kochie_online) October 16, 2018

2/2 that you can’t keep them... it’s a free world. There’s no slavery any more. People have rights.

I admit it was clumsily put this morning when talking about Bolt shifting clubs so early and I should have explained it better. — David Koch (@kochie_online) October 16, 2018

SBS News has reached out to Sunrise for comment.