THE chief executive of Bedfordshire Football Association has resigned after spreading a racist joke via email.

Peter Brown forwarded the offensive email to two other people from his work address in what he has since called “an error of judgement” he sincerely regrets.

It comes at a time when the FA has complained to UEFA about racist abuse from Bulgaria fans directed at England’s Ashley Young, who is from Stevenage, and Theo Walcott during the Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia on September 2.

Mr Brown said: “I am disappointed that my error will embarrass the FA at the time of the concern over the match in Bulgaria.

“I am deeply saddened that 15 seconds of bad judgement is tarnishing all my previous work for football.”

Mr Brown said he made the decision to resign because he felt it was “the appropriate thing to do”.

Defending Mr Brown, Chris Sterry, secretary of Arlesey Town Football Club, said: “The email’s not something he generated, it’s something he passed on.

“I feel for him because you put your life into something and these days there’s always someone to pull you down.

“It seems to me that someone’s got it in for him.”