British cycling’s golden boy Matthew Richardson has been accused of having a ‘God complex’ after being axed from the team following allegations of using racist language.
Richardson, 27, was sent home from the Cycling World Championships on Monday with the ‘misconduct’ probe over his behaviour still ongoing, while his 23-year-old cyclist girlfriend Emma Finucane remains at the competition in Shanghai and raced to a silver medal in the Women’s Team Sprint on Wednesday morning.
Finucane put on a brave face, smiling with her team-mates Sophie Capewell and Rhianna Parris-Smith on the podium after losing gold to China.
Richardson has been accused of using racist and discriminatory language towards others and using the n-word, according to The Times, who also report that riders in the World Class Programme described him as ‘arrogant’ and having a ‘God complex’.
‘At the velodrome he’s the golden boy,’ they added. ‘Matty is one of their best chances of a gold medal in LA and he knows it.’
British Cycling began investigating Richardson after a formal complaint was made, it is understood.
The Olympic medallist broke his silence on Tuesday, writing on Instagram that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ and would co-operate with Team GB, who he joined after leaving the Australian programme.
Matthew Richardson (right) is not competing at the World Championships amid the ongoing misconduct probe but his girlfriend Emma Finucane (left) remains
Sophie Capewell (left), Finucane (centre) and Rhianna Parris-Smith are pictured with their silver medals on Wednesday after coming second in the Women’s Team Pursuit
He said: ‘I understand the seriousness of what has been raised in recent reports about my withdrawal from the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
‘British Cycling has said it looks into matters like this through its established procedures. I will co-operate fully with its processes. I assure everyone that I will do so properly, and appropriately and with contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected.
‘Out of fairness to everyone involved, and on advice, like British Cycling, I will not be commenting further until any process is complete. I am deeply disappointed to miss the World Championships, and I wish the Great Britain team and every rider competing the very best.’
Richardson’s exit sent shockwaves through the sport, while his girlfriend Finucane welcomed her parents to Shanghai ahead of the competition on Monday.
Her brother, Sean, 21, told the Daily Mail of his family’s ‘shock and surprise’ at the latest development.
He said: ‘We are all pretty shocked and surprised – he’s a lovely guy. 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.’
Emma, who won four gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, competes in the Individual Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin. Ultimately it was China who took gold in the Team Sprint, with Finucane and Co settling for silver and Germany taking bronze on Wednesday.
In a statement sent to Daily Mail Sport, a British Cycling spokesman said: ‘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.’
Richardson has been described as having a ‘God complex’ and being ‘arrogant’
When approached by Daily Mail Sport about the misconduct allegations which are believed to have prompted Richardson’s withdrawal, the organisation added that they would not be commenting further at this stage.
Richardson and Finucane live together in Manchester and have been dating since February 2024 after ‘knowing each other for a long time’.
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.
