Danny Williams & Paul McShane Banned For Three Matches

Reading Captain Paul McShane and midfielder Danny Williams were both caught by the TV cameras having a bust up late on during the club's 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough. While both apologised and were disciplined by the club, the FA also decided to take action and charged them both with violent conduct.

Today the club have confirmed they won't appeal the decisions meaning the pair will both serve three game bans and miss trips to Leeds and QPR as well as the Hull home game sandwiched in between.

Speaking to the club's website the pair once again apologised, with McShane saying...

"As I said to the press yesterday, it was two passionate people in a coming together with a disagreement that lasted just a few seconds towards the end of a match both Danny and I desperately wanted to win. We went to ‘lock horns' but the slow motion replays make it look much worse that it was.

"However, I fully appreciate that, as footballers, we have a responsibility to demonstrate our passion and determination in the way we play our football on the pitch and I am sorry that it spilled over like it did. It shouldn't have happened and it won't again. I have apologised to my teammates this morning and I'd also like to take this opportunity to apologise to our supporters."

Williams added...

"I would like to say sorry to the manager, my teammates, the club and most importantly all of our supporters for a heat of the moment incident that happened late in the game on Tuesday night.

"Everyone who sees me on the pitch will know I am a man who plays his football with pride and passion and who will do everything he can to win three points for his team. But on this occasion, this wasn't the right reaction and although Macca and I apologised to each other after the final whistle, we both know we have let down our fans."

One would hope that this fully draws the line under a week just about everyone at the club would like to forget...