Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher suspended from TV pundit role over spitting incident

The retired England international says he was "goaded" into "moment of madness"

FILE - This is a Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 file photo of  Liverpool's Jamie Carragher as he listens to a question during a press conference ahead of a Champions League, Round of 16, first leg soccer match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. The Sky television network Monday March 12, 2018 suspended soccer announcer Jamie Carragher after the former Liverpool player was filmed spitting in the direction of a 14-year-old girl through his car window. The incident happened Saturday after Carragher left Old Trafford. He had been there working for Sky Sports at Manchester United's game against Liverpool. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez/File)
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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been suspended from his role as a football television pundit in England after video footage emerged of him spitting towards a girl in a car, the television company said on Monday.

Carragher has apologised for the incident, which took place after Liverpool lost 2-1 to Manchester United on Saturday, calling it "a moment of madness".

The 40-year-old former England international was summoned for talks with Sky Sports who had earlier described his actions as "unacceptable".

"Sky takes this matter extremely seriously and strongly condemns Jamie's actions," Sky Sports said in a statement. "We've made that clear to him in person and suspended him from his duties. It falls well below the standards we expect of our people."

Danish broadcaster TV3 has also dropped Carragher from their coverage of Manchester United's Uefa Champions League tie against Sevilla on Tuesday.

"Jamie should have been to Old Trafford for us tomorrow night," TV3's head of sport Peter Norrelund told Danish media. "We have taken him off. It would have been like sending him into the lion's den. I've watched the video, and it does not look very nice,"

Carragher was driving home after summarising on Manchester United's win over Liverpool at Old Trafford when he apparently became involved in a conversation with the occupants of an adjacent car.

A video taken from the car, released on the website of several British newspapers, clearly shows Mr Carragher spitting.

In the video the father of the girl can be heard shouting: "Unlucky Jamie lad. Two, one".

"Totally out of order and I've apologised personally to all the family this evening," Mr Carragher said on Twitter.

"I was goaded 3/4 times along the motorway while being filmed and lost my rag. No excuses, apologies."

Mr Carragher, who joined Sky Sports after retiring as a player in 2013, has become a popular pundit working regularly alongside former United defender Gary Neville.