British cycling star Matthew Richardson has been labelled “arrogant” and accused of having a “God complex” after being removed from the national team amid allegations that he used racist language.
The 27-year-old was sent home from the Cycling World Championships on Monday as a misconduct investigation into his behaviour continued. His 23-year-old girlfriend, Emma Finucane, stayed in Shanghai and won a silver medal in the Women’s Team Sprint on Wednesday morning.
Finucane appeared determined to remain composed, smiling alongside teammates Sophie Capewell and Rhianna Parris-Smith on the podium after China claimed the gold medal.
According to The Times, Richardson has been accused of directing racist and discriminatory remarks towards other people. Riders within the World Class Programme reportedly described him as “arrogant” and said he carried a “God complex”.
“At the velodrome he’s the golden boy,” riders were quoted as saying. “Matty is one of their best chances of a gold medal in LA and he knows it.”
British Cycling is understood to have opened an investigation after receiving a formal complaint about the rider.
Richardson addressed the situation publicly on Tuesday, saying on Instagram that he was “deeply disappointed” and would co-operate with Team GB. He joined the British programme after previously representing Australia.
Matthew Richardson (right) is absent from the World Championships while the misconduct investigation continues, whereas his girlfriend Emma Finucane (left) remains in competition
Sophie Capewell (left), Emma Finucane (centre) and Rhianna Parris-Smith display their silver medals after finishing second in the Women’s Team Pursuit on Wednesday
“I understand the seriousness of what has been raised in recent reports concerning my withdrawal from the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships,” Richardson said.
“British Cycling has said that matters of this nature are handled through its established procedures, and I will co-operate fully with that process. I assure everyone that I will engage properly and appropriately, with contrition for the feelings of anyone who may have been affected.”
“For the sake of fairness to everyone involved, and on advice, I will not comment further until the process has concluded. I am deeply disappointed to miss the World Championships and wish the Great Britain team and every competing rider the very best.”
Richardson’s withdrawal sent shockwaves through the cycling world. Around the same time, Finucane’s parents arrived in Shanghai ahead of the championships.
Her 21-year-old brother Sean described the family’s reaction to the allegations as one of “shock and surprise” when speaking to Our News Outlet.
“We are all pretty shocked and surprised — he’s a lovely guy,” he said. “He’s been here a lot and never shown any signs of that sort of behaviour. My parents flew out to Shanghai yesterday — none of us knew.”
Finucane, a four-time gold medallist at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, is competing in the Individual Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin. China won the Team Sprint on Wednesday, with Finucane and her teammates taking silver and Germany securing bronze.
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In a statement issued to Our News Outlet Sport, a British Cycling spokesperson confirmed: “British Cycling can confirm that Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from the Great Britain Cycling Team squad for the upcoming 2026 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, China.”
Matthew Richardson has reportedly been described by fellow riders as “arrogant” and having a “God complex”
Asked about the misconduct allegations believed to have led to Richardson’s withdrawal, British Cycling told Our News Outlet Sport that it would not comment further while the matter remained under review.
Richardson and Finucane live together in Manchester and have been in a relationship since February 2024, having reportedly known each other for many years before they began dating.
Richardson had been due to be one of four members of the men’s sprint squad at the World Championships.
He had been due to join Harry Ledingham-Horn, Ed Lowe and Joe Truman in the squad.
Richardson had claimed three medals at the European Championships in Konya, Turkey, earlier this year.
The 27-year-old won gold in both the men’s sprint and keirin events, as well as claiming silver in the team sprint with Truman and Hamish Turnbull.
Richardson had been due to make his comeback after he was injured during the Keirin World Series in July.
Richardson’s partner is fellow British cyclist Emma Finucane, who welcomed her parents out in China amid the storm engulfing her boyfriend
Last week, Richardson said he is ‘lucky’ to be walking after being wiped out by a rival in an incident, which ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games three months ago.
Richardson had been slammed off the track by Japanese cyclist Kento Suzuki while competing in the event in July, leaving the velodrome in an ambulance.
The sprinter said he has not received an apology from Suzuki over the incident.
He was favourite to win gold in Glasgow but never got to take part after the horrifying crash. He was unable to walk for four days after coming away with a broken scapula and a heavily bruised hip.
Richardson had been hoping to defend the title he won when competing for Australia in 2022, before he switched nationality to represent Britain, which he claimed was like ‘Hogwarts’ compared to ‘High School’.
The defector, who was born in the English town of Maidstone but moved to Perth at nine and went on to carve out a brilliant track career for Australia, caused a sensation by switching allegiance straight after winning two silvers and a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He received a life ban from competing for Australia.
