Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt has apologised after calling Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy a 's**thouse'.
The derogatory remark was tweeted out by Holt in the aftermath of Accrington Stanley's 2-1 defeat to Ipswich.
Holt had been left unhappy at one particular incident in which Morsy appeared to raise his hands towards the face of Accrington Stanley's captain Ethan Hamilton. He has subsequently been banned for four matches.
'He's a s**t house is Morsy,' Holt tweeted after the match, but he has since looked to apologise for the offence caused.
Holt, who remains defiant that he is no way defending the actions of Morsy, said in a statement to the club's official website that he was wrong to voice his opinions as he did.
He said: 'On Saturday, I lost my patience and made a derogatory remark about an opposition player on my Twitter account.
'I am not for one minute defending what he did. I am however apologising for any offence I may have caused him, his club or others by my public remarks.
'As a chairman of a football club (that I don't want to be), I am allowed to have opinions, but I accept I should not voice them as I did.
'In the end though, I am what I am, no excuses. These situations have come with the territory with me all my life.
'I didn't want to own a football club and I am used to saying things as I see them. I do not claim to be always right but at the time of making statements I always think I'm right.
'I hope I don't do it again but cannot make any promises. That's how I roll.'
Morsy's ban comes as a huge blow for Ipswich and their boss Kieran McKenna reiterated following a midweek win over AFC Wimbledon that there was 'nothing malicious' in it from his captain.
McKenna told reporters: 'Look, I saw the incident live and I trust my eyes. I know you can slow things down on video and make it look different, but I saw it live from a couple of yards away, as did the fourth official, and to my eyes it was nothing malicious, nothing dangerous.
'I thought he tried to move past his marker, got a tug on the arm and he threw his arm out to shake free of his marker and he caught him on the neck. There's no danger, there's no malice, there's no intention.
'I think it's extremely harsh. I'm disappointed for Sam. He's a very important player for us, an important leader, but we can't change it now.'
Reacting to his ban, Morsy tweeted: 'Really disappointed with this charge, minimal contact and the referee saw it as a coming together. I will be back stronger then ever!!'