The AFL’s reputation has taken a hammering after it emerged senior official Jason Mifsud helped spread an explosive race-related claim about Melbourne coach Mark Neeld.

Mifsud, the AFL’s national community engagement manager and most senior indigenous employee, offered his resignation on Tuesday after admitting his role in the fiasco.

The AFL is refusing to reveal the original source, but comments by Mifsud at a media conference indicate he heard the false claim from a Melbourne indigenous player.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou did not accept the offer of resignation but said Mifsud had been “dressed down” and given a warning.

Neeld was furious over the rumour, in which he is alleged to have spoken with the Demons’ non-indigenous players individually over the pre-season but only addressed indigenous players as a group.

Ex-St Kilda coach Grant Thomas made the allegation public in an online column on Monday, although Thomas later withdrew it after a phone call from Neeld.

Mifsud revealed on Tuesday that he was the one who had given Thomas the information.

“There’s absolutely no truth – not one scintilla of truth – to this story,” Demetriou said of the claim.

The identity of Mifsud’s original source became clearer when he was asked why the person had made the claim.

Mifsud explained it was because “where he’s at in his current life, the demands that have been elevated at the Melbourne football club”.

Mifsud was later asked why the person’s identity remained a secret.

“It’s widely acknowledged by the clubs themselves that senior indigenous players and indigenous players carry a significant pastoral care role within the clubs and they’re a great source of insight and cultural leadership across the whole organisation,” Mifsud said.

“Equally, indigenous players carry a significant social burden as well.”

This controversy follows on from Matthew Rendell resigning last month as Adelaide’s recruiting manager.

Rendell was effectively forced to quit after it emerged he had told Mifsud of his concern that clubs might only recruit indigenous players if they had one white parent.

Mifsud and Thomas were talking about Rendell’s resignation when the Mifsud mentioned the Melbourne rumour.

Rendell and Mifsud worked under Thomas when he coached the Saints.

This latest saga also highlighted the long-standing ill-feeling between Thomas and the league, especially Demetriou.

Sitting next to Mifsud at a Tuesday afternoon media conference, Demetriou slammed Thomas over making the allegation public.

Demetriou appeared to imply that Neeld should take legal action against Thomas.

“That article had only one purpose … to inflict hurt on another person,” Demetriou said.

Demetriou said Mifsud’s comment to Thomas was “inadvertent”.

Mifsud added: “I would like to offer my full and unreserved apology to Mark Neeld and Melbourne.”

He said he was told the claim three weeks ago, but had only been able to speak to the source on Monday night, after the controversy had erupted.

Mifsud and Demetriou denied the person was escaping “scot-free”.

“This person, I’m sure, will be spoken to and counselled about the error and I’m sure this person isn’t feeling particularly good today,” Demetriou said.

Demetriou also said that Rendell could soon be working in the AFL industry again after apologising for his comment to Mifsud.