Cardiff crisis deepens as Riza takes aim at ‘clueless’ fans

Rhodri Evans
Omer Riza has branded some of Cardiff City’s fans as ‘clueless’, a comment that the Cardiff City Supporters Trust has called ‘disrespectful’.
With the club under significant pressure of potential relegation, Riza took aim at the criticism he had received from some fans.
“I do read comments, I read all the comments from fans and unfortunately a lot of them are clueless,” Riza said.
Riza did qualify the comment by saying that there are a lot of “good fans” but his words still prompted a shift backlash.
In a post on X, the Cardiff City Supporters Trust asked Riza to “reflect on his ill-judged comments.”
“Comments that fans are clueless are both disappointing and disrespectful given the need for everyone to be pulling in the same direction as Cardiff City battles to avoid relegation,” read the statement.
“Given the club’s precarious position, the manager, indeed any manager, should expect to receive criticism from fervent supporters who are passionate about the future of our club. We hope Omer will reflect on his ill-judged comments.”
Cardiff’s results in recent weeks have seen them plunge further into relegation trouble, with Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Stoke City another hammer blow.
With an away trip to promotion favourites Sheffield United, and and then a home match against relegation rivals Oxford United, this coming Easter weekend could be a pivotal one.
With the Welsh club one point from safety – and inferior goal difference to many sides around them – Riza said he was aware of the severity of the situation and was ready to accept responsibility.
“It is a failure on my part, if we go down,” Riza added.
“If they [the Cardiff City board] feel like someone can come in and save Cardiff from going down, and do a better job than me, then I’m happy for that to happen.
“I don’t believe that that is the case, I believe that I am the right person to do the job.”
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