Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive Angus Porter has apologised after suggesting Moeen Ali should take the abuse he faced at Edgbaston "as a positive".

England spinner Moeen was booed by Indian fans during the hosts' T20 win in Birmingham on Sunday.

His father Munir believed it was because of Moeen's Pakistani background, and police treated it as a "non-crime hate related incident" after an official complaint from a spectator.

In comments that triggered criticism of Porter and the PCA, particularly on social media, Porter told Press Association Sport: "His dad offered his view sincerely and I hope it doesn't stoke the fire because he was just standing up for his boy.

"There is an element of taking it as a compliment. You are more likely to boo someone when you think they are someone to be feared.

"Take it as as a positive, you'd rather be booed than ignored."

But Porter later acknowledged his attempt to quell the controversy had succeeded only in bringing it back to the fore, and admitted his comments were wrong.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "I made a mistake by suggesting racism does not matter and I do condemn it unreservedly. I started by saying that in the interview but I also tried to play down the situation because Moeen does not want it to become a major issue. But in trying to play it down I succeeded in doing the reverse and I am sorry.

"It is very important that I make it clear that racist behaviour is condemned unequivocally and I am happy to say that."

Porter added in a statement released on the PCA website: "I would like to clarify comments I made in a telephone conversation with a reporter from the Press Association, which have been interpreted as meaning I do not regard racism as a serious matter.

"I want to make it clear I believe racist attitudes and behaviour are unacceptable, at any level, in professional cricket, or in any walk of life.

"Moeen Ali has the full support of the PCA, as do all our members."

Before making his clarifications, Porter said he would be surprised if racial abuse had come from the Indian fans.

"It shouldn't happen but I have always found the Indians to be respectful and it is a little bit surprising in that respect," he told Press Association Sport.

India's tour has been littered with ill-feeling, with Ravindra Jadeja booed after his clash with James Anderson in the Test series earlier in the summer.

Porter wants supporters to refrain from all types of abuse and appreciate the game instead. He related the Moeen issue to the chiding Lancastrian Anderson could face from a Yorkshire crowd.

"Supporters pay their money and they are entitled to express an opinion, but I don't think it's exclusively about Moeen," Porter said.

"You see other players get booed. Jimmy Anderson gets booed when he goes to Yorkshire and it's disappointing when players are performing as entertainers and doing their best. It would be great if spectators saw the positives."

The police would need more evidence to pursue the issue and Moeen, who took one for 31 in the game which England won by three runs, does not want to make a complaint.

Moeen's father Munir believes the booing had racial undertones and insisted the Birmingham-born spinner should not have to contend with any abuse.

"We are very disappointed with what happened. It should have been a special day," he told ESPNcricinfo.

"Moeen was playing for his country in the city of his birth. It is the city I was born in and the city my mother was born in. The whole family was looking forward to it and we thought he would receive a warm welcome.

"Instead he was abused from the start. He was abused because he is a Muslim and because of his Pakistan heritage. That is disgraceful.

"We have experienced so much kindness and goodwill from all communities - Indian, British and Pakistani - in recent months, so it is disappointing that some supporters let their team down with this behaviour. There is still a problem with racism between Asian communities in the UK."