Stuart Webber apologises for Norwich City racism row comment

Webber has been accused of "racially profiling" five black players including current Canaries star Jonny Rowe and former City players Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis. 

In the interview with this newspaper, the Welshman was looking ahead to his climb of Mount Everest in aid of the Summit Foundation, set up with his wife Zoe, who remains executive director at Carrow Road.

Webber listed the five players as examples who might have ended up in "jail or something else" had they not made it as professional footballers, when talking about his passion for helping young people from underprivileged backgrounds.

Stuart Webber mentioned former Norwich full-back Max Aarons (pictured) in his comment (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images)

He said: "Jonny Rowe wouldn't mind me saying it but him, Abu Kamara, Max, Jamal, Raheem [Sterling] back in the day at Liverpool - where they come from it had to work out for them in football, because the alternative is potentially jail or something else."

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That comment sparked outrage among some social media users, with Aarons' mother Amber accusing Webber of "casual racism and blatant disrespect" and anti-discrimination campaigner Troy Townsend describing the comments as being "racially profiling".

Webber talking to Jonny Rowe after a win at Cardiff last November, his last game before leaving his role (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images)

But Webber is said to be "gutted" by the offence caused by the clumsy wording of his comment and has contacted the players and their families to apologise.

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Lewis, Aarons, Kamara and Rowe came through the ranks during Webber's six years with the Canaries, with Lewis and Aarons making big-money moves to Newcastle and Bournemouth respectively.

Sporting director Stuart Webber was given a guard of honour by the Norwich players after a win at Cardiff last November, his last game before leaving his role (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images)

Rowe has been a key player for City this season while young Forward Kamara is starring on loan for League One side Portsmouth. Webber signed England international Sterling from QPR as a 15-year-old when he was head of academy recruitment at Liverpool.

The 39-year-old, who masterminded two Championship title triumphs, left Carrow Road last November.