Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has said he was "ignorant" rather than racist when he used a racial slur against a Japanese man in a casino.
The England international was given a "substantial" fine and ordered to undergo diversity awareness training after a video of the incident emerged.
He said he had not realised that the term - "Jap" - is offensive.
Show Racism the Red Card said it was "encouraged" that Vardy had recognised the "huge mistake" he made.
In an excerpt from his autobiography published in The Sun, the footballer said: "The word 'racist' is a permanent stain against my name.