Taylor Gardner-Hickman "will apologise" if a ball kicked into the City Ground crowd by the West Bromwich Albion midfielder did hit somebody during the match against Nottingham Forest.
The 20-year-old was introduced as a first-half substitute soon after Albion were reduced to ten men as Steve Bruce moved to two banks of four. Ten minutes after being introduced, though, Gardner-Hickman was booked after booting the ball into the crowd moments after being penalised for a tackle on Forest's Philip Zinckernagel.
The move was clearly out of frustration six minutes before half-time and sparked a minor fracas between both sets of players on the far side of the pitch. After the game Bruce moved to defend the Baggies youngster, insisting that there was no malicious intent behind the action and apologised on the player's behalf.
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"He's a young player, who's as genuine and honest as they come, and he's meant to kick the ball, I agree, in frustration against the advertising boards, and unfortunately, it's gone over the top," Bruce told BirminghamLive.
"And, if it's hit somebody in the crowd, then we will apologise, and I'll get Tayls to make sure that whoever it was, if it did hit somebody, then we will get in touch to say that. I hope that he's okay.
"He wouldn't do anything malicious. He's a young kid caught up in the whole thing, and as I said, I think he's tried to bash the ball against the advertising board and, unfortunately, missed it.
"So we apologise for those concerned. But he would never ever do anything like that and just try to damage anybody."
