Melbourne Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry says cultural differences could be a factor in the furore over Chris Gayle's controversial comments, but he will still sanction the West Indian superstar.
Coventry offered Channel 10 journalist Mel McLaughlin an unreserved apology on Tuesday morning for any offence caused by Gayle during his now-infamous sideline interview during the Renegades' clash with Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena on Monday night.
"It could be a cultural thing but it's unacceptable here in Australia," Coventry said.
"We don't condone that sort of behaviour, so we'll do everything we possibly can to stop that. "We've ticked so many boxes as a franchise this year ... this is a speed hump in the road but hopefully we can get over this.
"On behalf of the franchise, I want to apologise to Mel and hope that she didn't feel uncomfortable in her professional environment. She's a wonderful sports reporter and she doesn't deserve that."
The CEO wouldn't go into specifics about what sort of sanction his club would consider.
Coventry spoke to reporters from Melbourne airport immediately following Gayle's short address to the media that took some coaxing from club officials.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson had briefed journalists that Gayle would make a short statement on the team's arrival but Gayle himself had little interest in the waiting media throng.
A smiling and seemingly relaxed Gayle walked straight past the area where camera crews had set up for the press conference to wait for his luggage at the baggage carousel, where he signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans.
In bizarre scenes he was followed by camera crews as he then stopped at a coffee shop, enjoyed a brief exchange with a cashier as he placed an order then moved on to the another carousel where the team's bags were being unloaded.
He shared a joke with close friend and teammate Dwayne Bravo and continued to pose for selfies before he was eventually convinced to return to speak to reporters.
Coventry explained that Gayle had been overwhelmed by the size of the media presence for his arrival, but the West Indian appeared anything but flustered as he apologised to McLaughlin for any offence he may have caused with his "simple joke" that he felt had been blown out of proportion.
Rather than read a statement, Gayle stepped in front of the cameras, took a sip from his water bottle, removed his sunglasses and asked, 'Do you have a question for me?'
As he explained himself and his reaction to the controversy, he chided a reporter for interrupting.
He said he had tried to reach out to McLaughlin unsuccessfully and drew proceedings to a close when pressed on her reaction to his comments. "Did she tell you she was uncomfortable?" he replied.
"She told you that? All right - have a good day."
Coventry hopes to get the pair together in the next 24 hours so that Gayle may apologise in person.
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