Fuller sorry for Griffin incident

Fuller was sent off shortly after West Ham equalised at Upton Park

Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller has apologised to the club's supporters for the incident that saw him slap his own captain Andy Griffin.

The dispute happened following Carlton Cole's equaliser for West Ham last weekend, a match Stoke went on to lose.

"It happened and that's all - I'm sorry for the fans especially as we didn't get the three points," said Fuller.

"I said to Griff 'clear the ball out' and he was rude and disrespectful. It's all done and dusted now."

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The pair got involved in a heated exchange which descended into pushing and shoving. Fuller was dismissed for violent conduct and will now face a spell on the sidelines.

He added: "What he said was bad but what I did was worse and I'm probably going to be suspended for three or four games now."

Stoke chairman Peter Coates said the newly-promoted club wanted to keep the 29-year-old, although the player was unsure whether his actions have caused irreparable damage.

"Who knows? It's up to the club," Fuller said regarding his future.

"I give my all for Stoke, all the time. Maybe I give too much.

"Maybe that's why I am in this position now because I was trying to do so much for football and for Stoke City because I am a Stoke City player at the moment and that's all I care about - Stoke City, the team and myself.

"Anything that goes, goes, I'm OK. It's not a position any football player would like to be in.

"It's one of them things and I've just got to get over it. It will go away anyway, it's just a matter of time. Time is always the master.

"I'm sorry for what happened, especially for the fans who have been great this season.

"Hopefully, it will never happen again. It's not a position I like to be in. I'm so passionate, I love to do football work and I love to do football work for Stoke City. Anyway, it's up to the club."