NFL owner forced to apologise after referring to anthem protesters as 'inmates running the prison'

An NFL owner has been forced to apologise after labelling players who protest during the American national anthem as "inmates".

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair made the comment during a meeting of all NFL owners in the last month which was scheduled in an attempt to find a solution to the issue that has dominated the news agenda throughout the 2017 season.

A number of players have dropped to one knee during the Star Spangled Banner prior to games as a mark of protest against the treatment of black people in the United States with president Donald Trump a vocal critic of the movement started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last season.

Trump has even gone as far as to suggest that teams should fire any players who don't stand for the anthem.

McNair's statement, first reported by ESPN, came in response to an impassioned plea from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for the league to come to some sort of compromise on the issue which is believed to be impacting the league significantly from a financial standpoint.

McNair responded by suggesting "we can't have the inmates running the prison" which is said to have drawn a stunned response in the room. McNair is a Trump supporter and is understood to have donated $1million to his inaugural committee.

However, following the publication of the report McNair released an official statement expressing regret for the comment.

"I regret that I used that expression," he said. "I never meant to offend anyone and I was not referring to our players. I used a figure of speech that was never intended to be taken literally. I would never characterize our players or our league that way and I apologise to anyone who was offended by it.

The issue, highlighted by Kaepernick - who remains a free agent after opting out of his contract with the 49ers in the offseason - has divided fans and team owners alike.

Cowboys owner Jones has told his players that they will be benched if they do not stand for the national anthem, but Jones, like McNair also a Trump campaign donor, is as yet the only one of the league's 32 owners to take such a stand.

Jed York, the owner of the San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank both said that they don't fear Trump's reaction and will continue to go about their business.

“We need to be above it,” York told Sports Illustrated's Peter King last week. “We need to be above petty attacks from anybody, because racial and socioeconomic inequality have existed in this country for too long. You’ve got to block out the noise and do your job.”

“You know what I have learned in 75 years?” Blank said. “Control what you can control. Be responsible for what you say and do. In the NFL, our values have to respect the shield. We always have had a partnership with our players and now we have to stand with them on these important issues.

"This is not doing three media events and we’re finished. This is a long-term commitment that we have to make. These issues have to pass from one generation to the next. It’s hard work and it will take time.”