Reporter's salacious comments about late football boss broadcast live

A BBC sports editor has reportedly been taken off air over ‘insensitive’ comments about late Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Dan Roan has been absent from BBC coverage since his controversial comments emerged on Monday.

Mr Roan was picked up on a live Sky News feed having a conversation in which he mocked Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s marriage and hinted that his assistant was also his ‘mistress’.

“We’re not commenting further than what we have said so far which is: ‘This was an ill judged comment made in a private off-air conversation for which Dan has apologised’,” the BBC told Evening Standard.

Roan was at the scene of the helicopter crash where Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed outside the club’s stadium on Saturday.

One of the other people killed was Srivaddhanaprabha’s assistant and former Miss Universe runner-up Nusara Suknamai.

Mr Roan was overheard saying: “The mistress who died in the crash…otherwise known as a member of staff…i.e. mistress.

“If you were a billionaire, it’s relatively expected, so we shouldn’t judge.”

Mr Roan later tweeted: “Just want to say sorry for some comments made in a private, off-air conversation earlier with a colleague. Absolutely no offence intended.”

Petition calls for Roan’s sacking

A petition has since been set up, calling for Mr Roan to be sacked.

Ashley Cowley, who launched the petition, wrote: “Dan Roan should be removed from his role within the BBC.

“Dan Roan has made insensitive comments about the Leicester City chairman after the terrible helicopter crash on October 27 and the BBC have to act.

“Just remember the BBC is funded by the UK population paying for their TV Licence.”

The other victims in the crash were employee Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz, who was also a professional pilot.