Cardiff City defender Krystian Bielik has been given a two-match ban and fined £10,000 by the FA after an altercation with a Portsmouth supporter during a 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park on September 5. The 28-year-old clashed with the fan while collecting the ball for a throw-in, with footage of the incident appearing to show him grabbing the young supporter by the throat.
Incident and investigation
The supporter, who had aimed a slap at Bielik, was escorted out of the stadium. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary later launched an investigation into an alleged common assault before dropping the case after Bielik agreed to apologise to the supporter.
FA statement and sanctions
The FA said in a statement: "Krystian Bielik has been suspended for two matches and fined £10,000 for misconduct during Cardiff City's EFL Championship match against Portsmouth on Saturday 5 September."
"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."
Impact on Cardiff
Bielik will now miss Cardiff's next two Championship matches, away at Blackburn on Saturday and against Watford on Tuesday. He has made seven appearances for the Bluebirds this season after joining from West Brom in the summer. Cardiff have made a poor start to the season following promotion and sit 21st in the Championship, having won just one of their eight games so far.
