Richards apologises for shirt-throwing

Manchester City defender Micah Richards has apologised for his shirt-throwing tantrum at Reading on Monday.

The teenage defender lost his temper with boss Stuart Pearce when he was hauled off during the Blues’ 1-0 defeat at the Madejski Stadium, hurling his shirt out of the dug-out, then following up with a volley of abuse.

Eventually, Richards was calmed down by veteran striker Paul Dickov, who was taken off at the same time.

The incident did little to enhance City’s disciplinary reputation so soon after Ben Thatcher was hit by an eight-match ban following his assault on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes, while Ousmane Dabo was sent off at Reading.

However, the former England skipper is happy to report Richards’ apology, the youngster having sought his manager out at training on Thursday to say sorry.

“Micah made a bee-line to see me yesterday morning and apologised for his behaviour, which is fine by me,” Pearce told www.mcfc.co.uk

“There is no problem. He had the hump about being taken off but he has come in, apologised and told me he was totally wrong.

“I don’t see a lot of ill-discipline there and I don’t believe we have a problem overall either.

“A challenge was made by one of my players, he was disciplined and we were honest as a club in respect to his punishment.

“Another one of my players has been sent off for a challenge ourselves, Sky TV and the player on the end of it thought was a little bit harsh.”