Disgraced Manchester United scout Torben Aakjaer yesterday admitted to posting racist messages on Facebook but insisted that he was not a racist.

Aakjaer was sacked on Wednesday night after the Guardian discovered offensive images and messages about Muslims on his Facebook account.

He used his social media account to support Denmark closing its borders and putting “extra personnel on every crossover and exit so all that eastern Europe dirt and shit can be kept out,” as well as a message of support for right-wing Dansk Folkeparti’s views on border control.

Despite initially saying he was “hacked by someone who doesn’t like me or Manchester United,” the former scout has now owned up to the messages — one a picture of six pigs with the caption: “It’s time to deploy our secret weapons against Islamists,” — blaming the media for portraying him as a racist.

He told Danish newspapers: “I do understand if people are offended by that comment (calling eastern Europeans dirt and shit,) but I think it’s just my statement to the article linked to. It’s not a racist comment. But I do understand Manchester United terminating my contract when they get it presented this way.”

“I have expressed my opinion and I have always protected my right to do so. Those things that have been said and written after my comments were published is not how I see myself. It’s been put forward as racist comments.

“If there was anything racist in my comments I’m sure Facebook would have deleted it or I would have been reported by people. But that has never happened.”

Aakjaer’s Facebook also contained a conversation with a friend about the Charlie Hebdo massacre in which his friend said that he hopes France “throws the rest of all that shit they have in their country out.”

Aakjaer replied: “Couldn’t agree more. Let’s hope other countries including our beloved Denmark follows that example efficiently.”

Asked why United had sacked him he said: “I don’t think they can live with the publicity about this. I recognise that some of my comments should have been put out better but I do stand with the things I have written.”

The Manchester club released a statement saying they had “terminated our association with Mr Aakjaer.”