Dave Kitson has moved to clarify comments he made about Raheem Sterling where he appeared to suggest the Manchester City star had “made himself a target” for racist abuse.

In an appearance on Talksport two years ago, Kitson claimed that posting images of expensive cars on Instagram had left the England international open to abuse just days after Sterling was racially abused while playing for City against Chelsea.

Kitson is now hoping to replace Gordon Taylor as PFA chief executive with his criticism of Sterling in that appearance bringing his stance on racism in the game into question.

But the former Stoke striker is keen to stress that he wasn’t condoning the treatment Sterling suffered and that the “clumsy language” he used at the time doesn’t represent him as a person.

“I said that it gave people a reason to dislike him as a person. Not that he had done anything wrong on his social media account but it gave certain people a platform to vent their ill-informed, ugly views,” he told the Sunday Mirror.

“But I’m distressed that this has somehow morphed into a suggestion I condoned the shocking abuse Raheem suffered or that he otherwise asked for it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Perhaps I used clumsy language and for that I apologise. But I never have and never will condone any form of racism. I admire Raheem for taking up the fight and saying: ‘No, I’m not having this’. And I agree with him. More needs to be done. And I’m prepared to do it.

“And if he, or anyone, wants to discuss that matter with me, and what I intend to do, I’m more than happy to have that chat and put his mind – and that of other players – to rest.”

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