The mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has called on The Sun to sack its columnist Kelvin MacKenzie, after he compared Everton footballer Ross Barkley, who is mixed-race, to a gorilla.

Mr MacKenzie, a former editor of the paper, wrote that he was not surprised the midfielder was punched in a nightclub, because he was like an animal in a zoo.

The piece was accompanied by a picture of the footballer juxtaposed with a picture of a gorilla.

Merseyside police have confirmed they are investigating complaints of a racial hate crime in relation to the article.

The piece also offended many in Liverpool, where, according to the columnist, “the only men with similar pay packets [to Mr Barkley] are drug dealers.”

News UK, the parent company which owns The Sun, said they have suspended Mr MacKenzie while the incident is “fully investigated”.

The statement also claimed “the paper was unaware of Ross Barkley's heritage and there was never any slur intended.”

Kelvin MacKenzie suspended from The Sun over 'unfunny' views about Liverpudlians

Mr Anderson said: “Make no mistake about it, MacKenzie’s words were racist.

“Kelvin’s words will have been passed through several people and signed off by an editor. Ignorance simply cannot be used as a defence.”

The mayor, who is an Everton fan, has also been leading a campaign for the club to boycott The Sun and ban its journalists from their press conferences.

“Despite my best to encourage Everton FC to ban The Sun, I can’t help but feel a sense of betrayal in the knowledge that our club gives cover to journalists of the very same publication that continues to attack and smear the people of Liverpool,” he said.

Today, Everton and Liverpool fans will mark the 28th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 people lost their lives.

Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Show all 10 1 /10 Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives react after the jury delivered its verdict at the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster, in Warrington Reuters Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster celebrate outside the Hillsborough Inquest in Warrington PA Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Margaret Aspinall holds a banner after the jury delivered its verdict at the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster Reuters Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives of the Hillsborough sing 'You'll never walk alone' as they depart Birchwood Park after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest Getty Images Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives of Hillsborough victims show their emotions as they depart Birchwood Park after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest Getty Images Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives of Hillsborough victims hug as they depart Birchwood Park after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington Getty Images Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Margaret Aspinall (C), whose son James died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, makes a statement following the conclusion of the inquest into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster Getty Images Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives sing "You'll never walk alone" after the jury delivered its verdict at the new inquests into the Hillsborough disaster Reuters Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Relatives of Hillsborough victims hold up banners as they depart Birchwood Park after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest Getty Images Hillsborough families react to inquest conclusions Donna Miller (R), sister of Hillsborough victim Paul Carlile holds up a banner as relatives depart Birchwood Park after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington Getty Images

Mr Anderson has called on Everton supporters to turn their backs to the pitch at 3.06pm, the exact time the semi-final match at Hillsborough was abandoned, to “send a clear message to the board that The Sun is not welcome at our club”.

Mr MacKenzie was editor of The Sun when the paper published its infamous allegations that Liverpool fans had urinated on police officers and picked the pockets of corpses at Hillsborough.

The move prompted a widespread boycott of the paper in Liverpool that is still observed by many.

In February, Liverpool FC banned The Sun from its press conferences in relation to its historic Hillsborough coverage.

The accusations have since been proven false, while a jury found in April last year that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed following a 27-year legal battle for justice, led by the families of those who died.

At the time of writing, a Change.org petition calling on Everton to boycott the paper had gained 1,220 signatures.