Serie A highflyers Sampdoria have issued an apology to Erick Thohir, the president of Inter Milan, after the club's president Massimo Ferrero referred to the Indonesian as a "Filipino".

Film producer Ferrero, who took over the Genoa-based club at the end of last season, made the gaffe Sunday in an interview with Rai Sport after being asked about Massimo Moratti's recent decision to resign as Inter's honorary president.

"It's not right that Moratti was treated like this. I am very sad for him. I told him: kick out that Filipino...," Ferrero said.

Moratti was president of Inter before Thohir, a businessman from Indonesia who owns Major League Soccer club DC United, bought a majority 70 % share in the club last November.

Sampdoria later released a statement which cited Ferrero as saying: "I would like to sincerely underline I did not mean any disrespect to Thohir, the directors of Inter or the people of the Philippines, who I have always had a great relationship with.

"I was trying to praise Moratti and all he has contributed to Inter and Italian football for 20 years."

Under the helm of coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, Sampdoria remain unbeaten after eight games and sit fourth in Serie A only six points behind leaders Juventus.