BRAD TASTE

Stephen lashes back at Riera's taunt

- BY GARRY DOYLE

A WAR OF WORDS erupted in Tallaght on Thursday after Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley accused Celje manager Albert Riera of “lacking class” in the wake of their Europa Conference League clash.

Bradley was left angered by comments made by the former Liverpool and Manchester City winger (below), who appeared to taunt him for managing in Ireland rather than moving to a bigger club abroad — remarks the Rovers boss branded disrespectful and insensitive.

“Anyone who knows me knows my situation, knows where my priority lies,” said Bradley, referencing his son Josh's brave battle with leukaemia. “There’s a lack of class to what he said.”

Riera's jibe appeared to be a response to Bradley's criticism last year, when he accused the Spaniard of arrogance after Celje’s defeat in Tallaght.