PRESSURE is mounting on Sunderland boss David Moyes after he revealed the club’s rulers knew about his threat to “slap” a female reporter in the immediate aftermath of the comments being made.

Leading politicians and a North-East domestic abuse charity called for the Football Association to investigate the Black Cats manager over the warning in a post-match interview with Vicki Sparks, who works for BBC 5 Live and BBC Newcastle, in the wake of his side’s goalless draw with Burnley last month.

On Monday afternoon, the FA announced it was "seeking observations" from Sunderland.

An FA spokesman said: "We are seeking observations from the club."

It will speak to Moyes to get his version of what happened after Sparks interviewed him.

The Sunderland boss was unhappy with a question about whether the presence of owner Ellis Short at the Stadium of Light had meant that his job was under threat, and broke off at the end of the interview to speak to Sparks, whose recording device was still in operation.

“It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there, so just watch yourself,” said Moyes to Sparks. “You still might get a slap even though you’re a woman.”

Moyes’ comments have provoked a furious response from a number of quarters, with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker branding the Scotsman’s actions “inexcusable” and shadow sports minister, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, urging the Football Association to take disciplinary action.

Clare Phillipson, director of the domestic abuse charity Wearside Women in Need, was "stunned" when she watched the exchange on video.

She said: "I think the FA have to look into it.

"It is for the FA to set a clear standard about what they think is acceptable.

"It was dreadful, absolutely appalling.

"This is a woman, in a very small minority of sports journalists, trying to go about her job and being threatened.

"It's the sort of thing you expect down the local pub, not the kind of thing you get from a professional football manager."

Moyes has personally apologised to Sparks and has underlined his regret at his actions. However, he is refusing to step down and remains confident he will not be dismissed.

He spoke with chief executive Martin Bain in the immediate aftermath of the incident at the Stadium of Light, and also discussed it with Short on the following Monday, when the pair met to talk about Sunderland’s position at the foot of the Premier League table.

When asked whether he thinks he can survive in his role, Moyes said: “Yes. I don’t see it as being something which is in my character. It is something which is out of character.

“As I said, I’ve apologised to the girl. She was fine, she accepted it. I phoned her on the Monday morning.

“I spoke to Martin immediately after it happened. I spoke to Ellis about it on the Monday morning as well. They were aware of it two weeks ago.”

Moyes feels his comments were not representative of his character or beliefs, and claims he acted in the heat of the moment at the end of a game that caused further damage to Sunderland’s hopes of staving off relegation.

He said: “It was the heat of the moment. The business we’re in, sometimes you only have seconds to think and answer. So, you know, it was the wrong thing to do.

“I have said that I regret it. I have spoken to the girl, who I apologised to, and she accepted it. In the heat of the moment, sometimes the questions come in and you can answer them wrongly. You don’t always say the right things.”

Moyes claims to be an active supporter of women’s football, having previously championed Everton’s women’s team during his time at Goodison Park.

He said: “I think if you look at my history, I have actually been one of the biggest ones campaigning for women’s football. I tried to make sure we had Everton Ladies. At Manchester United, I was very keen on them having one.

“My daughter played for Preston until she was 19. I actually think to ask about ladies football and myself, you’re asking the wrong person.”

The latest incident comes after a succession of controversies that dragged Sunderland’s name through the gutter in the last few years.

Paolo Di Canio was appointed as the club’s manager despite well-known links to fascist organisations, and Sunderland stood by Adam Johnson despite being aware of allegations linking the midfielder with child sex offences that he was subsequently convicted of.

The Northern Echo:

MONDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT

Why did you say what you did to the reporter?

Moyes: "It was the heat of the moment. The business we’re in, sometimes you only have seconds to think and answer. So, you know, it was the wrong thing to do."

But that particular language, threatening to slap someone, how regrettable was that?

"I have said that I regret it. I have spoken to the girl, who I apologised to, and she accepted it."

The Shadow Sports Minister has called for you to resign, did you ever consider that?

"No, never a consideration."

So you think you can survive this?

"Yes. I don’t see it as being something which is in my character. It is something which is out of character. As I said, I’ve apologised to the girl."

Are you indebted to Vicki for accepting the apology?

"Yeah, yeah. She was fine, she accepted it. I phoned her on the Monday morning."

Have you had to speak to anyone at the club about it?

"Like?"

Chief executive or owner?

"I spoke to Martin immediately after it happened. I spoke to Ellis about it on the Monday morning as well. They were aware of it two weeks ago."

Do you think it will cost you your job?

"No."

Gary Lineker has tweeted that it has highlighted the tendency for managers to treat interviewers with utter disdain, it’s inexcusable. Do you agree with that?

"No, I don’t agree. In the heat of the moment, sometimes the questions come in and you can answer them wrongly. You don’t always say the right things."

So it was the line of questioning rather than it being a woman asking it?

Press Officer: "It’s fairly obvious that David has been very gracious and has answered all of the questions. It’s not in his character, it’s nothing to do with the fact it’s a female reporter. 

Reporter: "Well let him answer it."

Moyes: "I will always try to answer the questions."

It is a big issue that there are groups trying to get more women involved in the professional game, do you think that kind of comment is a deterrent?

"I think if you look at my history, I have actually been one of the biggest ones campaigning for women’s football. I tried to make sure we had Everton Ladies. At Manchester United, I was very keen on them having one. My daughter played for Preston until she was 19. I actually think to ask about ladies football and myself, you’re asking the wrong person."

As for women in football, you’re supportive?

"Totally."

But there is going to be anger about this?

"Yeah, that’s right, there will be. As I said, I deeply regret and I’ve done what I had to do and apologised, which I was right to do so.

Will this distract from the football?

"No, because as I’ve said, it was two or three weeks ago. For some reason, it’s been brought up now."

Do you still want to carry on?

"Yes, I want to do the job and I want to get it right. There's been a lot of difficulties, but I want to be here. This club has not been winning often enough for a long time now. It's been a difficult season for lots of reasons, but I believe there are better times to come."

There are previous examples of Ron Atkinson and Malky Mackay, is there a concern this could escalate to that level in the next 48 hours?

"No. I think you all know my character, you know who I am. Anybody you want to ask to speak for me, they will tell you different."

What have your family said about it?

"I’ve been with my wife last night and this morning, she’s been up, we had breakfast this morning. So, all good. My daughter as well."