Jamie Vardy fears some will always label him a racist

Britain Football Soccer - Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League - Old Trafford - 24/9/16 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy, Andy King and Christian Fuchs after the game Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic

Jamie Vardy admits he regrets the incident where he called a fellow casino-goer a "Jap" - but insists he's not a racist.

In August of last year the Leicester striker was caught on camera repeatedly referring to a Japanese customer at a casino as "Jap".

Vardy went on to apologise unreservedly for the incident but admits now that he fears many will never forgive him.

"The word ‘racist’ is a permanent stain against my name. It’s worse than a criminal record," he says in his autobiography being serialised in The Sun.

Vardy admits "he likes a scrap" but has defended his actions claiming that the use of the word was said out of ignorance and nothing more.

"I like a drink and enjoy being Jack the Lad," he adds. "I can be a pain in the a***. But one thing I’m not, and never will be, is a racist."

He adds: "I was angry at the time and I’d had too much to drink but I’d never have used the word ‘Jap’ if I’d known it was racist."