Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has apologised to Cardiff City players following an incident involving home supporters during the teams' Championship match at Fratton Park on the day of the fixture.
In the 72nd minute of Portsmouth's 2-0 victory over the Bluebirds, Cardiff defender Krystian Bielik became involved in a physical confrontation with a fan as he attempted to retrieve a ball from the stands. According to reporting on the incident, the supporter was subsequently escorted from Fratton Park before the final whistle, with his family also led out of the ground.
Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy stated that Bielik
got slapped in the face, while video footage circulating on social media appeared to show the Poland international grabbing a young fan around his upper body. The altercation resulted in a stoppage of approximately three minutes while officials worked to restore order on the pitch.
The disruption escalated when a second supporter threw a ball at the head of Cardiff defender Perry Ng, leading to both fans being ejected from the stadium.
What did Portsmouth's manager say?
Mousinho acknowledged the seriousness of the situation in his post-match remarks.
The referee said that, as Krystian went to get the ball, there was a little bit of a kerfuffle and one of the supporters struck him, he explained.
It wasn't a good incident. I have just seen him there, and he was ok, but that's not the point, we can't be having that.
The Portsmouth boss recognised the club's efforts to create an intimidating home atmosphere but stressed the need for boundaries.
We want to create a really difficult atmosphere at Fratton Park, we have done that successfully over the past few years. Sometimes it tips over, I understand that, I don't think it needs to tip over to that extent. We extend our apologies to the players, Cardiff and make sure we can try to cut it out.
How did Cardiff's manager respond?
Barry-Murphy described the conduct as unacceptable but praised the match officials for their management of the situation.
Krystian went to get the ball back from the stands and got slapped in the face. I just wanted to make sure he was protected and make sure he was ok. He is.
I thought the referee and his staff handled the incident impeccably. I think the players are always subjected to different things, it's not acceptable what happens. They don't expect that sort of treatment.He added that his priority remained protecting his squad while focusing on on-field performance.
My job is to protect the players but really my focus is on trying to make sure that we play well and win. So I'm sure the club and the FA (Football Association) will look at this and implement the correct process.
What are the potential consequences?
According to reports following the match, Bielik could face a lengthy ban over his involvement in the altercation. The defender was already carrying a yellow card at the time of the incident and later departed the pitch as a substitute during stoppage time. The Football Association is expected to conduct a disciplinary review, though no hearing date has been confirmed at this stage.
What is Portsmouth's disciplinary history?
This incident represents a continuation of crowd-related concerns at Fratton Park. Portsmouth received a £50,000 fine from the FA following fan disorder and a pitch invasion during a separate case last season. The club was also sanctioned alongside Southampton in February 2026 after disorder connected to the South Coast derby, highlighting an ongoing pattern of supporter misconduct that has drawn regulatory attention.
What happens next?
The FA is expected to review footage and statements from the incident, with potential disciplinary action against both the supporter and possibly the player under consideration. No formal hearing has been scheduled, but the governing body typically conducts such reviews within weeks of the reported incident. Both clubs may also face separate sanctions depending on the findings of the investigation.
Key Facts
- The altercation occurred in the 72nd minute of Portsmouth's 2-0 Championship victory over Cardiff
- A supporter struck Bielik while a second fan threw a ball at Perry Ng, resulting in both being ejected
- The stoppage lasted approximately three minutes before play resumed
- Portsmouth has previously faced FA sanctions for crowd-related misconduct, including a £50,000 fine last season
- Bielik could face disciplinary action, with the FA expected to conduct a formal review
