French midfielder Robert Pires launched an furious attack on Spain coach Luis Aragones on Thursday following racist comments apparently aimed at his team mate Thierry Henry.

Reporters overheard the Spanish coach attempting to motivate Jose Antonio Reyes by describing his club mate, Henry, as “that black shit”.

“He should be sued for racial aggression,” Pires told reporters.

“He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. He needs to be cornered on this.”

Aragones later his comment was “a joke” aimed at motivating Reyes, but Pires said: “What he said is not funny at all.”