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Ex-footballer Ian Wright in race row with African traffic warden
Last updated at 00:22am on 03.11.07Ian Wright, the former footballer and television presenter, has been accused of calling an African traffic warden a "monkey".
He is also alleged to have told the man to "**** off back to his own country" in a dispute over a parking ticket.
Wright denies all the warden's claims, which followed the row outside his home in St John's Wood, North London.
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Ian Wright confronts the traffic warden
"He's a liar," he said.
"He called me a white man who lives in a white man's road.
"I said to him, 'I'm sure your parents are happy that you've come to England and been a traffic warden instead of a lawyer or something'."
Police were called when a scuffle erupted last month after the former England and Arsenal striker was issued with a ticket for parking on the street without a permit.
One of Wright's friends grappled with the 44-year- old warden and onlookers said Wright acted as peacemaker.
A 38-year-old man was cautioned for assault after the fracas.
But three weeks after the incident, the warden went to a police station to make a formal complaint.
Police have confirmed they are investigating an allegation of racist abuse.
A witness said: "Ian Wright had parked his car on the road and received a parking ticket.
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Ian Wright tries to intervene as his friend grapples with a traffic warden
"But for some reason, his mate followed the warden down the road and they ended up pushing and shoving each other.
"Ian Wright then came out of his drive and tried to smooth things over. The fight had nothing to do with Ian Wright, he didn't start or provoke anything, he was just trying to calm everything down."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers received an allegation of racial abuse which will be investigated."
It is not the first time Wright has had a run-in with a parking attendant. Two years ago he and his wife Deborah were accused of littering after a warden saw someone throw a paper cup out of the window of their Bentley.
Ian Wright's friend continues the argument
The couple were about to stand trial, with the warden as a witness, when a third person came forward and confessed to the offence.
Wright, voted one of 100 Great Black Britons, was the victim of racism four years ago as he watched his stepson, Shaun Wright-Phillips, score a goal for Manchester City at a match against Queen's Park Rangers.
QPR fan Terence Argyle, who was sitting in front of him, turned around and racially abused Wright.
He was later charged and convicted.
Wright, who played for England 33 times and was awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to football, has become a media personality since he ended his playing career and he is a regular pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day.
He is also patron of the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust and backs the Show Racism The Red Card campaign, which aims to stamp racism out of football.
