THE BBC has issued an apology to Rangers manager Ally McCoist following a row over its coverage of a pre-match press conference.
The football boss accepted the apology after it was published on the broadcaster’s website and read out on BBC Sportsound at 7pm last night.
The dispute broke out after Mr McCoist, 48, claimed a news item on Friday in which he was questioned about sectarianism was unfairly edited.
The manager branded the reporting “appalling” and banned BBC reporters from Ibrox stadium.
An apology from the programme’s editor was sent to Mr McCoist yesterday as he prepared for last night’s Champions League qualifier against Malmo.
James Stephenson, editor of the BBC News at Six and BBC News at Ten, stated: “I am writing to you regarding the concerns you have raised in relation to an item transmitted on BBC News last Friday evening.
“Overall, we stand by the merits of our report revealing the extent of violence after Old Firm derbies and the cost of policing these matches. However, we do accept the sequence involving comments from Rangers manager Ally McCoist could have given the impression he did not take the issue seriously.
“It was not our intention to misrepresent Mr McCoist. The BBC accepts Rangers Football Club and Ally McCoist treat the issue of violence and disorder surrounding football matches as a very serious matter.
“We accept that offence has been caused by an inappropriate edit in the piece as transmitted and for that we apologise.”
BBC Scotland commentators were allowed entry to Ibrox to report on the match after Mr McCoist said the matter had been resolved to his satisfaction.
Mr McCoist said: “I was appalled by the BBC’s coverage and the club will not tolerate this type of reporting. I was adamant I would not speak to the BBC until the matter was resolved to my satisfaction so I am pleased an apology has been issued today.
“I have always been generous with my time as the media play an important role in modern football but I will not tolerate being portrayed in the manner I was last week.
“Having worked in television for many years, with the BBC, I know exactly what was done last Friday and I was disgusted with their editing of the pre-Hearts press conference.
“Last season was a difficult one for the Scottish game and I think it is important we all get back to focusing on football. We all have a responsibility to improve the game’s image and I hope season 2011/12 can be remembered for all the right reasons.”
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