Slovakia's football association has apologised to its English counterpart
for the racist chants aimed at England's black players during Saturday's
Euro 2004 qualifier in Bratislava.

Slovak supporters hurled abuse and made monkey noises at striker Heskey and
defender Cole, but Slovak FA president Frantisek Laurinec said the racism
was not representative of the nation's fans as a whole. Speaking through his
coloured interpreter Laurinec said "We're really sorry that the actions of
our fans has made the Slovak people appear to be backwoods inbred redneck
Keystone-beer drinking fatboys with a fetish for horse on man pornography,
and I have personally written half hearted letters to Heskey and Cole to
this effect".

Trouble was on the cards when the English national anthem was roundly booed
by the partisan crowd, and the English fans did nothing to difuse the
situation by returning the compliment and booing "Dueling Banjos", the
Slovakian anthem.

UEFA are said to be anxious that their comprehensive policy of "hoping for
the best and letting 'em get on with it" has again been put into the
spotlight, and will meet on Thursday to decide whether they should meet in
the future to discuss stuff.