Hodgson calls 'space monkey' joke row 'misunderstanding' following 'saddening' racism allegations

England boss Roy Hodgson who recently came under attack for telling his players to 'feed the monkey' has clarified that he just meant to ask the men to give the ball to the player who can make things happen, adding that there was no other connotation and no offence taken by the team.

According to the Mirror, Hodgson expressed that a generational misunderstanding may have been to blame for him becoming embroiled in a race row over using the phrase to explain to his team why they should pass more often to black winger Andros Townsend.

Several members of the squad were said to have been upset with the comment that the England manager made in the dressing room at halftime in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland on Tuesday night at Wembley, the report said.

However, Spurs ace Townsend clarified on Twitter that he did know what the fuss was all about and no offence was meant or taken.

Hodgson said that he had coached almost everywhere in the last 37 years and worked with all kinds of people, so this intimation of racism was very saddening.

He added that some of the younger players may not have understood the reference to the money in space, and they may not have heard the expression before but that was a generational thing.