The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Foster embarrassed by bust-up
St Johnstone player tells of feelings in aftermath of row with team-mate
Embarrassment was Richard Foster’s strongest emotion in the aftermath of his bust-up with St Johnstone teammate Danny Swanson.
As soon as the pair calmed down in the Hamilton Accies away dressing room, the stupidity of what had happened between two seniors pros dawned on them.
In the short-term there was guilt that Saints went on to lose the match.
In the long-term, Foster was prepared to accept whatever punishment came his way.
But the former Aberdeen and Rangers man admitted that explaining to his young son why dad had been red carded wasn’t easy.
He said: “We were told not to go upstairs because photographers would be looking for us.
“So the two of us sat in the dressing room quietly for five or 10 minutes before we got up and gave each other a hug. “We realised we had both been stupid. “There is no animosity at all. We get on fine and the boys in the dressing room have been great.
“Obviously there were a few jokes flying around afterwards. The dressing room is great for that. But there has been no grudges held because of what happened.
“We felt bad enough because we knew we let down the team.
“They were left with nine men and lost the game. But the players realised there was no point in giving us any more stick.
“In my opinion the club have dealt with it very well.
“They have been open and honest with me and Danny at all times. They had an investigation, they came to us and said what the punishment was going to be and we move on.
“There was never any thought we were going to appeal. We knew ourselves we were in the wrong. Whatever punishment the club deemed fit was the one we would pay.
“We are both glad the incident didn’t result in us being sacked.”
He added: “We are massively embarrassed by what happened.
“Embarrassment was the over-riding feeling, letting yourself get into a situation like that which should never really happen.
“Danny has kids and I have a six-yearold boy who is just getting into football.
“It was difficult trying to explain to him why I wasn’t playing.
“Thankfully he was away on holiday so he missed most of it.
“I have read comments saying that in other walks of life we would have been sacked instantly, but football is different. I am not condoning what happened but football is different. It is a very emotive game.
“In other jobs you don’t have thousands of people watching and commenting on your every move and having the spotlight from the press.
“The emotions spilled over that day. It spills over every week in every game. But it tends to be towards the other team, the referee or whatever.
“Look at the Ross County-Celtic game on Sunday. There were bodies flying everywhere after the Scott Brown tackle and red card.
“Danny and I should have sorted out our differences in the dressing room. We know that. There was a flashpoint but nothing would have happened even by the time we had got to the tunnel.
“It would have been a screaming match, an argument, nothing more if the game had gone on for another minute or two. But we were right there at each other when the half-time whistle blew.”
Foster has been one of Saints’ best players this season.
He is determined that the campaign will finish with fourth place being secured – and, hopefully, a spot in the Europa League qualifiers to go with it.
“At the start of the season top six was the aim,” he said. “I think we knew we’d get it a few weeks ago.
“But now we are fourth and, depending on what way the cup goes, there could be a Europa League spot available.”
He added: “At Rangers we played in the Champions League and then dropped into the Europa League.
“I also played in the Europa League with Aberdeen. So I know first-hand what a great experience it is to be involved in Europe.
“It is definitely in our sights now,” he said.
“We are in a position where Hearts have to catch us.
“But we have five tough games coming up, starting at Pittodrie.”
We realised we had both been stupid. There is no animosity at all.
RICHARD FOSTER
Richard Foster feared he “had thrown it all away” at St Johnstone as he reflected on the “worst period of my career”.
The Perth defender has spoken for the first time about his fight with team-mate Danny Swanson at Hamilton that resulted in a twogame ban and a heavy fine.
Saints stopped short of sacking the pair of them, and both returned to the team against Aberdeen on Saturday, but Foster admitted that dismissal did cross his mind.
“It was all a blur,” he said. “It happened so quickly and it was over in an instant.
“A lot of what I remember is actually from footage on the TV.
“It was an unfortunate incident which me and Danny are deeply sorry for and deeply regret. But thankfully we were both back involved on Saturday.
“You speak to people after it happened and they reassure you it won’t end up in a sacking. They said it was going to be a fine.
“You justify it to yourself with them. But when you are on your own you begin thinking that about the worst case scenario. You could have made a right pig’s ear of it.
“I feel myself I have had a good season, consistently reaching a level of performance I have been happy with.
“You sit on your own and think you could have thrown it all away. It does hurt. Anyone thinking that week I had off was easy is way wrong. It was the worst period of my career.”