Jason Lee says it is "never too late" for comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner to apologise to him for their controversial sketches which mocked his hairstyle.
The former Nottingham Forest and Notts County striker was often targeted on the Fantasy Football League programme in the 1990s.
In a recent article for the Daily Telegraph, Baddiel apologised for blacking up and wearing a pineapple on his head which led to rival fans poking fun at him on the terraces during his time at the City Ground.
Baddiel said it was “part of a very bad racist tradition" and has also issued numerous apologies on social media.
But Lee says he is yet to receive an apology from both comedians for the abuse he suffered.
“Luke Chadwick was going through a similar thing (where he was being mocked for his appearance on the panel show ‘They Think It’s All Over’) and he got an apology from Nick Hancock, I never received an apology from Baddiel and Skinner,” he said.
“It wasn’t like I was looking for one, but I’ve never met them in person. If I met them in person it’s a conversation we would have. I’ve never been mentally weak or physically weak so would you stand in front of me and mock me? I think you wouldn’t.
“To be on TV and saying it, you can get away with it, the fact that they might never meet you.
“When the show was going out I was invited on and I declined because I was 23 years of age. As far as I was concerned I had better things to do. I’m not going to laugh with you, laughing at me when I’m trying to take myself seriously and build a career.
“It’s never too late (to apologise). I think that would be good for maybe my children to hear that, and it would show them that in today’s day and age people maybe are more remorseful, and people are having to look at how they act."
Lee played more than 70 league games for the Reds in a long and fine career which also saw him turnout more than 60 times for the Magpies.
He now works as as an equalities executive with the Professional Footballers’ Association.
He has has worked with research firm Run Repeat on data which shows “evident bias” in how some football commentators describe ethnic players.
Lee says that can have a negative impact on how those players are perceived, and drew comparisons to his own experience.
“Baddiel & Skinner, did they realise the impact of what they were saying, how it affected so many people?" he said.
“Especially a hairstyle, you’re talking about ethnicity, a lot of black people would wear dreadlocks and feel deeply offended by someone who’s getting mocked for a similar hairstyle. The implications were far wider, and it wouldn’t happen today.
“You see (Wilfried) Zaha playing today, and others with similar hairstyles, it couldn’t happen today, and blackface as well, you wouldn’t be able to blackface now, that’s crazy.”
