Saturday, January 30, 1999 Published at 07:51 GMT
More bad karma for Hoddle
Angered: Hoddle has attacked interview
The England manager Glenn Hoddle has apologised for causing offence to disabled people by his reported comments in a newspaper interview.
But in an interview on the BBC's Grandstand sports programme, he says his remarks were "misconstrued, misunderstood and misinterpreted".
"It's hurt me. It's saddened me because there is a lot of work that I've personally done to raise money for disabled charities, mentally and physically", he said.
Hoddle was widely criticised for apparently suggesting disabled people were paying for their sins in a former life.
Hoddle's employers, the Football Association, have defended him as "an excellent supporter of the disabled".
'Put him on rack'
However, the chairman of the government's Football Task Force David Mellor is among the most outspoken critics.
Mr Mellor said Hoddle was now "on very thin ice" after recent performances and the controversial book he published after the World Cup.
Speaking later on Radio 5 Live's 606 phone-in, he told one caller Hoddle's comments were "insulting, upsetting and ridiculous" and said he felt like strangling the England boss for being "such a damn fool".
A statement said: "My support and care for disabled people is well-known."
He assured them they would always have his "overwhelming support, care, consideration and dedication".
And FA spokesman Steve Double said of the coach: "We regard him as an excellent supporter of the disabled."
Karma and faith
In the Times interview, Hoddle reportedly outlined his religious belief in karma - the concept that your current existence is affected by actions in an earlier life.
The committed Christian reportedly tells the newspaper: "You and I have been physically given two hands and two legs and a half-decent brain.
"The karma is working from another lifetime."
He also defended his controversial use of faith healer Eileen Drewery both in his own career and as an aid to current England team members.
The Church of England's official spokesman declined to respond directly to Hoddle's comments but emphasised he was not a practising Anglican.
The spokesman said: "I think all I can say is that we are all made in the image of God, all loved by God and all equal before God."
'Insensitive and hurtful'
Lord Morris, former Labour MP and the world's first minister for the disabled, described his words as "grossly and unbelievably insensitive and hurtful" to millions of people.
Scope, the country's biggest charity for the disabled, also condemned him for "making assumptions about disabled people".
Sports Minister Tony Banks said: "The Government policy on sport is clear.
"The enjoyment of sport whether through spectating or participating is something that should be open to all."