Micah Richards reveals he suffered wardrobe malfunction moments before going live on Match of the Day – and had to restrain himself to hide it

  • Micah Richards joined Alan Shearer and presenter Gary Lineker on MOTD on Saturday
  • The former Manchester City defender tore his shirt shortly before the match
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Micah Richards has revealed how he hid an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction during a live broadcast of Match of the Day on Saturday night.

The former Manchester City defender appeared on the BBC program alongside Alan Shearer and presenter Gary Lineker to judge the day’s Premier League action.

But prior to the start of the show, Richards did some damage to his clothing. This fact was unknown to the 36-year-old until Shearer pointed out the crack, but with only minutes before the program was due to start, he didn’t have time to change before the cameras started rolling.

‘I’m gone [into the changing room]put on my spray, ironed my stuff, it looks fantastic if I say so myself,” he said on the Rest is Football podcast.

‘As soon as we get to the studio, all I see is Alan [Shearer] grinning and I thought, “What is he grinning at now?” and he says I have a whole in my top.

Micah Richards was forced to hide a ‘big hole’ in his shirt during a live broadcast on Saturday evening

The former Manchester City defender had to be more reserved when discussing the day's Premier League action on Match of the Day

The former Manchester City defender had to be more reserved when discussing the day’s Premier League action on Match of the Day

The shock result of the weekend was Manchester City's 2-1 defeat to Brighton, their fourth in a row in all competitions

The shock result of the weekend was Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, their fourth in a row in all competitions

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‘I obviously think he’s pulling my leg. I pull it up and I got a huge one [hole]. I couldn’t continue with Match of the Day. I was so self-conscious it was horrible.”

“Normally you do a lot of mannerisms with your arms,” Lineker said. “You had a big crack under the armpit of your shirt. That’s what happens when you have weapons like that, Micah.’

Shearer joked, “Hulk exploded before he got airborne.” Before Richards added, “I was sweating the whole show.”

Richards was uncharacteristically subdued as he discussed the latest shock defeat for his former side, this time at the hands of Brighton at the Amex.

The Premier League champions gave up a one-goal lead in a 2-1 defeat to Fabian Hurzeler’s side, losing ground to Liverpool in the title race. The Reds took advantage of City’s misstep to move five points clear at the top of the table heading into the final international break of 2024.

The defeat was City’s fourth in a row in all competitions, following losses to Tottenham and Sporting CP in the Carabao Cup and Champions League and Bournemouth in their previous Premier League appearance.

It is the first time in his career that Pep Guardiola has suffered four defeats on the rebound.

“Maybe another team deserves it, after seven years of winning six Premier Leagues,” Guardiola said after the match. ‘There’s always a first time in life.

‘Normally people lose matches. This is my challenge. I like a challenge. I won’t take a step back. I want to do it more than ever. When my players come back I have no doubt we will be back to our best.”