Sunderland manager David Moyes has apologised for threatening to "slap" a female reporter following a post-match interview last month, comments which he says he "deeply regrets".
Moyes was being interviewed by BBC reporter Vicki Sparks following Sunderland's draw with Burnley last month and she questioned whether club owner Ellis Short's presence at the ground added more pressure to his job and the fight against relegation.
"It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there so just watch yourself," he said during comments caught off-air.
"You still might get a slap, even though you're a woman. Careful the next time you come in."
The pair are heard laughing during the comments and Moyes has since apologised over a phonecall. He apologised again on Monday afternoon after the video was published by the Daily Star.
"It was in the heat of the moment," Moyes said at his press conference today ahead of the visit of Leicester City on Tuesday night.
"I deeply regret the comments I made. It's certainly not the person I am and I accept it was a mistake. I've spoken to the BBC reporter who accepted my apology and hopefully we can now move on.
"The club have known about it for two weeks, I told Ellis about it two weeks ago. Sometimes these things happen in the heat of the moment.
"We're in an industry where you don't always answer things the way you want to. It can happen to managers young and old. It can be difficult being put in front of the cameras so soon after the games."
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, the British shadow Sports Minister, said Moyes' comments were "disgraceful".
"David Moyes cannot get away with these sexist threats -- the @FA must take action immediately," she wrote on Twitter.
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