Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has revealed his anger at being given an inaccurate account of the clash between Cardiff City defender Krystian Bielik and a spectator during Saturday's match at Fratton Park, insisting his initial apology to the visiting side was based on false information.
The incident occurred late in the second half of Portsmouth's win over Cardiff, when Bielik went to collect the ball from near the crowd and became involved in a physical confrontation with a supporter. The flashpoint prompted Hampshire Police to open an investigation, confirming that a teenage boy is reported to have been the victim of a common assault during the episode.
In the immediate aftermath of the match, Mousinho apologised to Cardiff's players and criticised the conduct of the Portsmouth fans involved. However, speaking to BBC Radio Solent ahead of his side's upcoming fixture against Charlton Athletic, the head coach clarified that those comments were not based on what he personally witnessed, but on secondhand information relayed to him at the time.
"I've now seen the footage and my comments post-match were entirely based off what I was told," Mousinho said. He explained that his vantage point in the dugout meant he had no direct view of the altercation as it unfolded, forcing him to rely on others for an explanation of what had taken place.
According to Mousinho, it was the match referee who initially briefed him and his staff, having reportedly witnessed the full sequence of events from his position on the pitch. "When the altercation kicked off I couldn't see it from where I was myself, the referee then spoke to us and his words at the time were very clear that he had seen the incident in its entirety," the Portsmouth boss explained.
Mousinho detailed the version of events given to him by the official, which suggested Bielik had been the target of aggression rather than the instigator. "He said that as Krystian went over to get the ball, the fan slapped him, and a second fan threw a ball at Perry Ng's head," Mousinho recalled, referring to Cardiff full-back Perry Ng, who was also seemingly involved in the disorder near the touchline.
Having since reviewed video footage of the incident himself, Mousinho now feels his original remarks did not accurately reflect what actually happened, leaving him frustrated at having condemned his own club's supporters based on an account that did not tell the full story. The club has not indicated whether it plans to issue any further statement or correction regarding the matter, though the police investigation into the alleged assault remains ongoing.
The incident has cast a shadow over what was otherwise a routine victory for Portsmouth on the pitch, with the focus in the build-up to their next match against Charlton Athletic shifting toward crowd behavior and the handling of the post-match fallout rather than performance on the field. Mousinho's comments suggest he is keen to set the record straight before Saturday's game, even as questions remain over how the initial, inaccurate account of the Bielik incident was communicated to him in the first place.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.