PROFESSIONAL Cricketers’ Association chief executive Angus Porter has apologised after suggesting Moeen Ali should take the abuse he faced at Edgbaston “as a positive”.

England spinner Moeen was booed by Indian fans during the hosts’ T20 win in Birmingham on Sunday.

His father Munir believed it was because of Moeen’s Pakistani background, and police treated it as a “non-crime hate related incident” after an official complaint from a spectator.

In comments that triggered criticism of Porter and the PCA, particularly on social media, Porter said: “His dad offered his view sincerely and I hope it doesn’t stoke the fire because he was just standing up for his boy.

“There is an element of taking it as a compliment.

You are more likely to boo someone when you think they are someone to be feared.

“Take it as as a positive, you’d rather be booed than ignored.”

But Porter later acknowledged his attempt to quell the controversy had succeeded only in bringing it back to the fore, and admitted his comments were wrong.

He told the Daily Telegraph: “I made a mistake by suggesting racism does not matter and I do condemn it unreservedly. I started by saying that in the interview but I also tried to play down the situation because Moeen does not want it to become a major issue. But in trying to play it down I succeeded in doing the reverse and I am sorry.

“It is very important that I make it clear that racist behaviour is condemned unequivocally and I am happy to say that.”

Porter added in a statement released on the PCA website: “I would like to clarify comments I made in a telephone conversation with a reporter from the Press Association, which have been interpreted as meaning I do not regard racism as a serious matter.

“I want to make it clear I believe racist attitudes and behaviour are unacceptable, at any level, in professional cricket, or in any walk of life.

“Moeen Ali has the full support of the PCA, as do all our members.”