Cardiff support Bielik with psychologist after alleged death threats

Cardiff City defender Krystian Bielik is receiving help from the club's psychologist after alleged death threats following his confrontation with a Portsmouth supporter, BBC Sport Wales reported. Manager Brian Barry-Murphy said the club had offered support to the player and his family as Bielik prepares to return from a two-match suspension this weekend.

Watch the highlights:

The 28-year-old Poland defender admitted a misconduct charge over the incident at Fratton Park last month, when he was deemed to have grabbed a young supporter by the shoulder. In addition to the ban, he was fined £10,000. Bielik said this week that his family had received threats amid the controversy; the threats remain allegations in the BBC report.

Barry-Murphy said Cardiff had spoken with Bielik to check on his welfare and had brought together staff from across the club to assist him. According to the manager, the aim was to reassure both the defender and his family that Cardiff would do everything it could to protect and support them during a stressful period.

That assistance includes work with Dr Mikel Mellick, who leads Cardiff's in-house support team and is also a principal lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Barry-Murphy said Mellick is at the training ground on most days. He described the psychologist and head of medical James Rowland as working together to provide help for players on and off the pitch, extending that support to their families when needed.

BBC Sport Wales also reported that Hampshire Police had concluded its investigation with no further action needed after Bielik was issued a community resolution order. The defender sent a written apology to the supporter before the Football Association charged him. Barry-Murphy supplied a character reference and witness statement for the independent regulatory commission hearing that considered Bielik's case.

Alongside his account of the club's support, Barry-Murphy emphasised the standards expected of Cardiff players. He said they must remain professional when dealing with crowds, while acknowledging that mistakes can happen. The manager said Bielik had apologised and stressed that the response now should include learning from the incident and working to prevent a repeat.