A Cardiff City player who appeared to grab a young Portsmouth fan by the throat during a game has received a two-game ban and £10,000 fine after he admitted misconduct.
Former Arsenal midfielder Krystian Bielik found himself in an altercation with a group of Pompey fans while trying to retrieve the ball during the Championship match on September 5.
The incident occurred in the 71st minute at Fratton Park, with Cardiff trailing 2-0 to the hosts. Bielik, a former Arsenal youth product, had attempted to gather the ball from the stands. Footage showed a young fan throwing the ball away from the Cardiff midfielder.
The act prompted a reaction from Bielik, who could be seen reaching out towards the fan’s throat and pushing them away. The fan responded by standing up and appearing to try to push Bielik in retaliation.
Following a delay, the supporter involved in the initial incident was ejected from the stadium for their part in the incident while Bielik avoided punishment.
Now, though, the 28-year-old will serve his penalty after an FA investigation.
Cardiff’s Krystian Bielik has been banned and fined after he appeared to grab the throat of a young Portsmouth fan
The midfielder will miss two Championship matches, and has apologised for the incident
The FA charge read: ‘It was alleged that the player acted in an improper manner around the 71st minute of the fixture.
‘Krystian Bielik subsequently admitted the charge. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed these sanctions following a hearing, and the written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.’
Hampshire police also looked into the incident, concluding that no further action was required.
Bielik is understood to have apologised, and will now miss Championship matches against Blackburn and Watford. He was making just his fourth appearance for Cardiff after joining the Bluebirds in the summer from West Brom.
Cardiff boss Bryan Barry-Murphy claimed post-match that Bielik ‘got slapped in the face’ by the fan and praised the referee’s handling of the incident.
‘I wanted to make sure he (Bielik) was protected and make sure he was OK, which he is,’ he said. ‘I thought the referee and his staff handled the incident impeccably.
‘He said he’d seen everything which occurred really clearly, so he defused the situation and implemented the correct processes from there.
‘The players are always subjected to different things that’s not acceptable. My job is to protect the players, but really I’m trying to make sure that we play well and win.
‘I’m sure the FA will look at it and implement the correct processes.’
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho, meanwhile, said he was ‘absolutely furious’ at the position he was put in.
