Crossword Genius

A chap playing sport ignoring United? A very poor example (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

apology

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'example' is the definition.
(I have seen 'bad example' mean 'apology' so perhaps 'example' could also mean 'apology')

'a chap playing sport ignoring united? a very poor' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'sport' could be 'polo' (polo is a kind of sport) and 'polo' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for apology that I've seen before include "Regrets < poor" , "Saying sorry; poor specimen" , "Acknowledgment of an offence" , "A poor example" , "regretful explanation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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