The video will start in 8 Cancel

Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Manchester City have moved to swiftly to take action after their academy chief used a racial slur to describe black players.

City youth scout Dean Ramsdale was under investigation after being heard referring to black players as “BBQs” - big, black and quick.

Ramsdale is understood to have used the term during a meeting about players in front of City colleagues and two football agents.

They were described as initially “taken aback” when they heard youth scouting and recruitment manager Ramsdale’s “racial profiling” of black players.

And one of the witnesses was so angered he later made his feelings known in a formal letter of complaint.

(Image: Sheffield Wednesday FC)

City accept the language used was clumsy and inappropriate and acted immediately, launching their own probe into the claims.

They informed their legal and HR teams before Ramsdale was spoken to by his bosses and told such language would not be tolerated.

City then sent a letter of apology, but have yet to hear if that move marks the end of the matter and it is now considered resolved.

(Image: Sheffield Wednesday FC)

The incident is understood to have happened in early June and been followed up by the formal complaint by the end of the month, sparking the club investigation.

And City are satisfied they acted correctly as soon as they were made aware of the complaint.

They they work with race relations bodies and employ a diversity and inclusion officer to ensure their staff training is all up to date.

Ramsdale, a former Barnsley player, joined City from Sheffield Wednesday in June 2017 as youth scouting and recruitment manager for the City Football Group based at the club’s campus in Manchester.

(Image: Getty) (Image: REUTERS)

The former Leeds academy boss had worked at Sheffield Wednesday in the same role for five years, having amassed over 20 years of experience in youth development.

Before joining Wednesday he had worked at Burnley having previously been director of youth at Preston.

Ramsdale was appointed at Wednesday by former boss Dave Jones and credited with helping revitalise the club’s youth set-up.