The BBC has apologised after a Match of the Day pundit likened a tackle in a Premiership match to rape.
Former West Ham United manager Alan Pardew, 47, was condemned by women's groups for trivialising sexual violence.
He had been analysing a tackle by Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien on Manchester City striker Ched Evans in Sunday's game.
Alan Pardew, left, with Alan Hansen on BBC's Match of the Day last night, where he made a gaffe by comparing a tackle to rape
Mr Pardew said on Match of the Day 2: 'Ched Evans is a strong boy but (Essien) knocks him off ... he absolutely rapes him.'
Co-hosts Adrian Chiles and Alan Hansen looked stunned, but there was no apology during the show.
Lee Eggleston of Rape Crisis England and Wales, today slammed Pardew for 'trivialising' sexual violence.
She said: 'The use of this language is completely inappropriate and I'm shocked to hear about it - I can't imagine why Pardew has said it.
'That something as serious as sexual assault has been misused to describe football is appalling.
'He has trivialised and undermined the seriousness of rape and anyone who has suffered sexual violence will rightly be angry hearing of it.
'I think he should apologise because otherwise it sets an example that it is okay to use the word rape in that context.
'We have spent 25 years making sure sexual violence is not acceptable and rape is a serious crime and this can only hurt that.'
Pardew was commenting on City striker Ched Evans's attempt to steal the ball from Essien , right, during the Chelsea v Man City game
A BBC spokesman apologised for Mr Pardew's comments but would not reveal whether he will be used as a pundit in the future.
She said: 'What Alan Pardew said was misheard. It was thought he used the word "rakes".
'If it had been heard, there is no question there would have been an on-air apology.
'Alan Pardew apologises unconditionally for any offence caused by remarks he made on the Match of the Day 2 programme last night. We have received a total of 35 complaints.'
Pardew has been described as a 'dangerous and distant animal' due to his poor public relations abilities
Since the ex-Charlton Athletic manager parted company with the club in November last year he has tried to build a career as a football pundit.
It is believed that his appearance on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night was his first pundit job for the BBC.
Yvonne Traynor, director of Rape Crisis in south London, said: 'How can he say that? It's insensitive in the extreme, how can he even think that it may be OK to make such a comment?
'I thought the BBC was supposed to be being more careful, what a joke! I can't see how he can carry on, but I doubt the BBC will tell him not to come back, that doesn't seem to happen these days.
'They'll probably just slap him on the wrist, but he should be hauled over the coals.'
A spokesperson for Women Against Rape also criticised Pardew for 'trivialising' such an important issue.
'Anyone who can say such a thing has no idea what rape means. It is really insulting to rape survivors to have the word trivialised in that way.'
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