FA charges Krystian Bielik as police close Portsmouth incident inquiry

Cardiff City defender Krystian Bielik has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association over an incident involving Portsmouth supporters, while Hampshire Police have closed their investigation. BBC Sport reported on September 23 that the police resolution included an apology from the player and that no further police action would follow.

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The incident occurred at Fratton Park during Cardiff's 2-0 Championship defeat by Portsmouth on September 5. The FA alleges that Bielik behaved improperly at approximately the 71st minute. The Poland international has until September 25 to answer the charge. The disciplinary allegation remains distinct from the police inquiry, which has now ended.

In a statement carried by BBC Sport, Hampshire Police said officers had spoken to the complainant and assessed the available evidence. The case was settled through an out-of-court disposal accepted by everyone involved, with Bielik providing an apology as part of that agreement. Police said they regarded the matter as closed. Their statement did not announce any further action against the defender.

BBC Sport reported that Bielik, 28, became involved in a physical confrontation while attempting to collect a ball from spectators in the second half. Some Portsmouth supporters gestured as though they believed a fan had been held by the throat. The report described social-media footage as appearing to show Bielik taking hold of a young supporter around the upper body; that description was not presented as a disciplinary finding.

Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy gave a different account of part of the confrontation, claiming after the match that Bielik had been slapped in the face. During the subsequent disturbance, another spectator threw a ball at Cardiff defender Perry Ng's head. According to the BBC report, both supporters involved were removed from the ground.

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho apologised to Cardiff's players after the game. In later comments, after seeing footage, he expressed anger about the position in which he believed he had been placed. BBC Sport said it had approached Cardiff for comment. With the police process concluded, the outstanding development reported on September 23 was Bielik's FA charge and the deadline for his response.