England and Tottenham winger Andros Townsend has tweeted to say "no offence was meant and none was taken" in relation to a joke made by Roy Hodgson.

He also says the story is not worthy of any notice:

 

I don't know what all this fuss is about. No offence was meant and none was taken! It's not even news worthy!

— andros townsend (@andros_townsend) October 17, 2013

 

The England manager has apologised after using the remark "feed the monkey" at half time of their World Cup qualifier against Poland.

Hodgson was speaking to Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and the joke related to passing the ball to Townsend, which references a well known joke about a monkey and an astronaut.

The joke itself had nothing to do with skin colour but elements within the English press decided to draw a direct link between joke and issue.

The full joke is as follows:

Nasa decides to send a shuttle into space with two monkeys and an astronaut on board.

After months of training, they put all three in the shuttle and prepare for launch. Mission control announces: 'This is mission control to Monkey One. Do your stuff.'

The first monkey begins frantically typing and the shuttle takes off.

Two hours later, mission control centre announces: 'This is mission control to Monkey Two. Do your stuff.'

The second monkey starts typing like mad and the shuttle separates from its empty fuel tanks.

After another two hours mission control announces: 'This is mission control to astronaut...'

The astronaut interrupts, shouting: 'I know, I know - feed the monkeys and don't touch anything!