Burnley fine Kevin McDonald for leaving Turf Moor at half-time and 0-5

Burnley have fined their midfielder Kevin McDonald after he left Turf Moor without permission during Saturday's defeat by Manchester City and watched the second half of their 6-1 drubbing in the pub. The Scotland Under-21 international today issued a formal apology for his "disrespectful" behaviour against City having been punished by the manager, Brian Laws, for walking out of the stadium at half-time. McDonald was substituted at the interval with his side trailing 5-0 but, rather than remain at Turf Moor for the second half, joined some friends in a nearby public house as Burnley slumped to their seventh defeat in eight games. "I now realise it was naive, disrespectful and totally wrong of me to leave the ground at half-time on Saturday," said the 21-year-old, a £500,000 signing from Dundee. "It was a gross misjudgement and instead I should have remained at Turf Moor to support my club and team-mates. "I acknowledge that I also showed a serious lack of respect to all the fans who were at the ground and who pay good money to watch their team play. I would like to apologise to the players, management and supporters and I have accepted my punishment. In closing, I would like to reassure all supporters that I am fully committed to helping the team as we fight to stay in the Premier League."