ABC caller ashamed over racist gaffe Suspended ABC rugby league caller David Morrow has expressed his shame and embarrassment at unwittingly broadcasting remarks condemned as racist. Morrow, whose gaffe came when he thought he was off-air just before last Monday's St George-Manly match at Jubilee Oval, apologised on Thursday with a "great deal" of remorse and contrition. "I am very embarrassed and ashamed I have offended some people," he said in a statement. I am extremely distressed that my remarks, which were accidentally heard on air, have been reported and misinterpreted as racist against indigenous Australians and possibly offensive to Darwin citizens. The ABC and the NRL have both denounced Morrow's comments, which included a reference to the difficulty of seeing dark-skinned people at night. They were made during light-hearted pre-match banter with a sideline colleague from Darwin. The ABC lined up colleagues Tim Gavel and Richard Stenson to stand in for the 30-year Grandstand veteran at NRL matches this weekend, after suspending him indefinitely on full pay pending an investigation. It was not immediately clear if his apology marked the end of the matter, or how long he would remain suspended. Morrow said his comment: "Dats da only way you can tell when there's anyone there, it's when dey smile" was a parody of what a policeman had told him in a security warning at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. "At no time did I set out to offend anyone," Morrow said, adding he had never been accused of offensive behaviour in 42 years of broadcasting. He had great respect for the indigenous influence in rugby league and was proud of the NRL's accomplishments with its indigenous All Stars, he said. ABC Grandstand Sport manager Craig Norenbergs said Morrow's remarks were indefensible. "ABC Radio takes the issue of discrimination and prejudice extremely seriously," he said. The ABC had been working closely with the NRL to build bridges to indigenous Australians, he said. NRL chief executive David Smith said the comments were "totally unacceptable." "We have made that position clear to the ABC," he said. Rugby league's commitment to indigenous programs, to the All Stars and our own reconciliation action plan couldn't be more at odds with such a remark. Ours is a game that welcomes people from every cultural background. Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council acting chairwoman Linda Burney said Morrow's comments were insulting and inexcusable even if he believed he was not going to air. "Whether you're on air or not, the fact that he thought it was acceptable to make derogatory comments, there's no excuse for that," she told the ABC. Morrow's comments could negate much of the work the game had done with indigenous communities, she said.