The Footy Show is in hot water after making fun of a baby's looks. Courtesy Channel Nine

THE Footy Show has posted a statement on Facebook saying it has spoken to the family of the baby whose picture was used on national TV and no harm was intended.

"Regarding recent articles in News Ltd papers, the Look-A-Likes photo was sent into The Footy Show by a friend of the family and was not taken off Facebook," the statement read.

"We chose not to make a statement to News Ltd yesterday but we did not refuse to apologise to the family and we did speak to the family on Friday and will do so again today to reassure them we never intended to cause hurt to them or their child and of course apologise if it did."

Michael and Melanie Richmond, from Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches, said they were "still in shock and dumbfounded" after a Facebook image of their firstborn daughter Bella was broadcast on Thursday's episode of The Footy Show without permission.

Mr Richmond said he and his wife would be consulting with lawyers today.

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"We are going to seek legal advice because they (Channel 9) still haven't gotten back to us," he said yesterday.

"We were going to let it go but we can't. Someone has put our baby on TV. We want to get some feedback on what our legal options are now."

Mr Richmond said the image of his daughter, taken last year, was posted on his wife's Facebook account.

"I understand how Facebook works and that when you share photos they become public and there's nothing you can do," he said.

"The fact is that somewhere, somehow, a producer has gotten a photo of my daughter and made the decision to put it on television. I know it's supposed to be tongue in cheek but she's just a baby. It's not cool."

A fan of the show in the past, Mr Richmond said he and his wife would be switching off.

A Channel 9 spokeswoman said the network would not be making any comment when approached again yesterday.

The Sunday Telegraph story sparked a heated debate on The Daily Telegraph's website yesterday, with many backing the Richmond family and branding the panellists "meatheads".