Riza apologises for calling some Cardiff fans 'clueless'

Omer Riza took over as Cardiff City manager following the sacking of Erol Bulut in September 2024

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has apologised for labelling some of the club's supporters as "clueless".

Riza is under pressure to keep the Bluebirds in the Championship, with the club sitting in the relegation places with just four games of the season remaining and facing a huge game away to promotion-chasing Sheffield United on Friday evening.

The 45-year-old made the comments on Wednesday sparking a backlash from the fanbase, with Cardiff City Supporters Trust branding Riza "disrespectful".

The former Watford coach had been responding to criticism he has received online and now says his comments were made out of frustration and the pressure of the job.

"It was absolutely not my intention to cause any offence to a fanbase that has been so supportive of me personally since I took charge earlier in the season," Riza said.

"I guess I was thinking of a very small minority of messages that had been a little too personal and it was out of that frustration and the pressure of the job that I said what I said.

"Quite frankly, I'm sorry for the hurt."

The Trust issued a statement after Riza's initial comments caused a backlash on social media, calling on the manager to "reflect on his ill-judged comments".

And in an interview released on the club's website prior to the Good Friday game against the Blades, Riza continued: "There have been high moments but too many low ones in recent weeks. We have the time to change that and put it right, but it starts now.

"Home and away, we have to give ourselves the best chance as one entity to achieve our goal of securing Championship football next season.

"I sincerely apologise for the mistakes I've made in disrupting that unity and I hope we can put all our focus as a collective now on doing what we need to do. Please accept my apology and thank you as always."