Police investigate Championship game after player grabs fan by the throat

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FT Desk

Police are investigating an incident which took place in the Championship fixture between Portsmouth and Cardiff on Saturday.

In the second half, Cardiff defender Krystian Bielik looked to retrieve a ball from the crowd to get play moving quickly but ended up in an altercation with a fan.

Video footage suggests that Bielik may have grabbed the supporter, a teenager, in the upper body area, potentially around the throat.

He got a slap in the face from the fan as a melee ensued.

"We can confirm that we are investigating an incident in which a teenage boy was reportedly the victim of a common assault during the football match at Fratton Park. Our enquiries are ongoing," the police said.

Another fan threw a ball at the head of Cardiff defender Perry Ng and both that fan and the other who allegedly slapped Bielik were escorted out of the ground.

Krystian Bielik grabs a young Portsmouth fan by the neck here 🤯😳

The young fan then retaliates and is asked to leave.#pompey #cityasone pic.twitter.com/U3UR5Hkhci

— Championship Terrace Talk (@ChampionshpTalk) September 5, 2026

Portsmouth said in a statement:

"Portsmouth Football Club are aware of supporter concerns regarding the incident involving a young fan and an opposition player at yesterday's match at Fratton Park.

"As this remains a safeguarding matter and is currently under investigation by both the club and the police, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further on the circumstances at this time.

"However, we are aware that a number of claims and assertions are circulating on social media. We would urge caution against speculation while enquiries are ongoing.

"The welfare and safeguarding of young people are of paramount importance to Portsmouth Football Club. We will continue to liaise with the relevant parties as enquiries progress.

"No further comment will be made at this stage while investigations remain ongoing."

Cardiff released a statement confirming their satisfaction with how the officials dealt with the situation mid-match, while the Football Association will look at all the evidence from the referee's match report to determine if any further punishment is required.

Pompey went on to win the game 2-0 thanks to goals Conor Shaughnessy and Marko Milovanovic.