Graeme Souness has apologised for his 'irresponsible' comments after admitting he would be tempted to play even if he'd tested positive for coronavirus.
The Liverpool legend made the controversial remark during an appearance on Sky Sports' The Football Show on Monday morning.
Asked whether he would defy medical orders by hiding a positive test and pulling on his boots if he were still a player, Souness said he 'could be persuaded to play'.
However, after his answer was heavily criticised on social media, the 57-year-old backtracked and has now issued an apology to Sky Sports News, insisting that he would not risk infecting anyone else.
'Patrick Davidson asked me a question about potential problems with positive tests,' Souness said. 'I think I came across not how I wanted to come across. That might make me sound a bit reckless and irresponsible.
'When I was asked the question by Patrick - "Would you play if you had tested positive?" - I ummed and ahhed and said ultimately yes.
'At that time, when Patrick was asking me the question, I was putting myself as a player, locked in the manager's room, putting me under pressure to play.
'I was thinking of myself and my family. What I wasn't thinking of was the bigger picture where possibly, if I had played and I was infected, I could have infected someone else.
'That was not on my mind at that time and I apologise if I offended anyone for that, but no way, at no time would I play and risk infecting somebody else.
'It may have sounded irresponsible and I apologise for that.'
During his appearance on Monday's The Football Show, Souness suggested there may be a problem with positive tests where the individuals show no symptoms whatsoever and admitted he would be tempted to play on.
'If I test positive and a manager is pushing me to play, yeah I’d possibly go for it,' he said.
'You might call me irresponsible but if I was a player now, I’d be desperate to get back playing.
'Footballers have a social responsibility, but on the other side of it, football can do so much good. To answer your question, I think I could be persuaded to play if I felt fine and I tested positive, but that's just me.'
The majority of Premier League clubs will receive the results of their first round of coronavirus testing on Tuesday afternoon, after which time those players who have tested negative will be allowed to return to non-contact group training.