Gordon Strachan AXED by Sky Sports after ex-Celtic and Scotland boss compared treatment of paedo Adam Johnson to racism

GORDON STRACHAN has been binned by Sky Sports after he sparked a furious backlash by comparing the treatment of paedo footballer Adam Johnson to racism towards black players.

The channel apologised after the ex-Scotland manager, 62, made a bizarre link between fans abusing Johnson, 31, on the pitch to bigoted chants.

And it emerged the ex-Celtic boss won’t be invited back as a guest pundit on their shows again over the comments.

He previously sparked anger after claiming on their The Debate show that he would sign the shamed winger, freed halfway through a six-year jail term for grooming a girl of 15.

He said: “If he [Johnson] goes on to the pitch and people start calling him names, have we got to do the same as it is to the racist situation?

“Is it all right to call him names now after doing his three years — have we got to allow that to happen?”

But a number of the prominent black players and anti-racism campaigners condemned Strachan after footage of his comments circulated on Twitter.

Anti-racism charity Kick it Out’s Troy Townsend - who is dad of Crystal Palace star Andros - tweeted: “I despair.

“That’s the problem when you keep giving [air-time] to those whose sell-by date long gone. This is where education is needed.”

Ex-Middlesbrough striker Leroy Lita wrote: “He really compared racism with paedophilia. F*****g disgrace.”

Ex-Everton striker Kevin Campbell tweeted: “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“I would like to see if Gordon Strachan explained what he meant because the video is not great at all!”

The Offside Trust - backing survivors of childhood abuse - also criticised his comments for “belittling” struggles of both black players and child abuse victims.

They said in a statement: “We condemn in the strongest terms the deeply insensitive, hurtful and insensitive comments made by Gordon Strachan in recent days.”

And sources revealed he won’t be invited back by Sky Sports on any of their shows.

They said: “He’s not a Sky employee and was a freelance pundit appearing as a guest on The Debate.

“He can’t be sacked because he’s not an employee but Sky won’t be using him as a guest again.”

A Sky Sports spokesman said: “Of course Sky Sports does not support the comments and we’re sorry for the offence they have caused.”

SKY SPORTS APOLOGISE

The footage of Strachan’s comments are believed to have been made on the same Sky Sports’ The Debate show he said Johnson deserved a “second chance”.

Strach - who managed Johnson, 31, at Middlesbrough - revealed he would be willing to sign him if he had the chance.

He said: “You cannot destroy his family and himself just because of what he did. He’s done his three years.

“This is for life. People will say, ‘That’s that guy’.

“But he still has to make a living for himself and his family.

“What if we don’t allow him back in the game and his family are affected? His kids? We’ve got to think about that.

“We must forgive. I generally think we forgive most people if they show remorse.”

Johnson was caged in May 2016 for grooming, kissing and touching a girl fan of 15.

But the former Manchester City, Sunderland and England star was released on licence from HMP Moorland, near Doncaster, South Yorks, last month.

He is not allowed to be alone with daughter Ayla, four. Ex Stacey Flounders said Johnson had “destroyed the life we had”.

We told how the former £60,000-a-week ace had a champagne-fuelled party at his £2million mansion on his release.