A NURSE who cared for people with special needs has been struck off after claiming Asians were `genetically' unable to play football.

Anthony Statham, 58, goaded mixed-race colleagues by using the word 'p***' and described his disabled patients as a `burden' and a `problem'.

He also told colleagues at Beech Mount Resource Centre, in Manchester, there were so few Premiership footballers of Asian origin because they were unable to perform the twists and turns required in the sport.

His care of patients was also below standard. He failed to recognise a patient was having epileptic seizures and he did not complete care plans or research his patients' conditions.

Statham, from Whitefield, was banned from working as a nurse after a hearing of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), in London.

Offensive

He was found guilty of using offensive language and failing to maintain satisfactory professional knowledge.

NMC chairman Simon Evans said: "We make no apology for the robust terms in which we expressed our findings about the nurse's racist and otherwise offensive language and conduct."

Statham started to work for Manchester Learning Disability Partnership at their centre in Harpurhey in 2005.

Lesley Bates, for the NMC, told the hearing Statham had told manager Leon Awan the area had `gone downhill since the Asians moved in'.

She told the hearing: "Mr Statham was spoken to about his language. He was advised it was perceived as racist and said it was simply him expressing his opinion."

Miss Bates also said he offended mixed-race colleague Lauren Carew when they first met by using the word `p***'.

A spokesman for Manchester PCT said: "We can confirm Mr Statham was dismissed from the service by the former Central Manchester PCT in August 2006."