Fury over gags at Leeds Utd bash

Stan Boardman is under fire for telling racist jokes at a Leeds United dinner.

The comic reportedly told one Asian guest, who had called him a "disgrace": "Fucking hell, I'm being heckled by Pakis now

"Why don't you go back to your curry house or shop in Bradford? Your elephant's waiting outside."

He also called northern women 'pigs' and unleashed a string of anti-Irish jokes. The club's manager David O'Leary and four players are Irish.

The club is especially sensitive about race issues since Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer stood trial for an attack on Asian student Sarfraz Najeib. Woodgate was convicted of affray but Bowyer was cleared.

At the player of the year event, Boardman joked: "I see Woodgate and Bowyer are here tonight. They went to a club last night. When they came out, one said to the other 'I could murder an Indian'."

Leeds operations director David Spencer has written to the comic, complaining that his performance was "inappropriate and unacceptable" and threatening to withhold his £4,000 fee.

It added: "You caused deep offence" and said that the comic was "not welcome at an Elland Road function in the future".

An unrepentant Boardman, 64, told the Daily Mirror: "I don't know what all the fuss is about - I tell jokes about everyone.

"If I am heckled, I'll respond no matter who that person is."

However Leeds bosses are also under fire for booking Boardman, given his reputation.

The dinner, for 500 guests, was in honour of Leeds' player of the year, Rio Ferdinand, who is black.

Published: 2 May 2002