Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has denied allegations by former player Nicolas Anelka that he is racist.
The 36-year-old striker, who is currently player-manager at Mumbai City FC, posted a YouTube video in which he alleged that comments Houllier made in his autobiography were “of a racist nature”.
The passage Anelka referred to says “for the first time of my life I saw black men turn red-faced” in relation to an argument with the striker’s brothers. However Houllier strongly denied Anelka’s claims.
The Liverpool manager between 1998 and 2004 was quote by L’Equipe as saying: “It is absolutely ludicrous and ridiculous.
“It’s false, completely false. It is a serious slander.
“I defy anyone to say that I am a racist with the number of black players I have had the chance to work with. (Eric) Abidal, (Alou) Diarra, (Michael) Essien and many others, you ask them.”
Houiller added that he is considering legal action.