EXCLUSIVE: Former Wales football captain Ashley Williams is held back after storming onto the pitch and grabbing a coach in a HEADLOCK in front of shocked kids during his son’s U12s game
- Former footballer and BBC pundit Ashley Williams has been charged by the FA with improper conduct and violent, threatening behaviour at a children’s match
- Williams is alleged to have attacked an opposition coach at an Under-12’s game
- With his son playing, it is claimed Williams ‘lost it’ before he was dragged away
- A spokesman for the ex-footballer said he was acting in self-defence and will contest the charge
Ashley Williams has been hit with an FA charge for improper conduct and violent, threatening behaviour after allegedly attacking an opposition coach at an Under 12s football match.
In staggering scenes in front of shocked children, the former Wales captain and BBC pundit is said to have ‘completely lost it’ at the fixture in Manchester, in which his son was playing.
A spokesman for the ex-footballer claimed he was acting in self-defence, added that they would defend the charge ‘vigorously’ and said they had ’45 witnesses’ to back up his version of events.
According to stunned witnesses, the 38-year-old entered the field of play to confront an opposition coach who had intervened after Williams’s son had been involved in an exchange with an opponent.
Williams is then said to have reacted furiously, according to witnesses, allegedly grappling with the man in front of his own son and wife, and refusing to let him go.
Shocking video footage, taken after the incident, shows other parents dragging a clearly irate Williams away as children look on with the game halted.
On a number of occasions he attempts to wrestle free and attempt to march back towards the coach before being halted.
Witnesses have said the ex-player continued to abuse two opposition coaches.
However, a representative for Williams was adamant he was assaulted first. He has responded to the charge and requested a personal hearing.
Ex-Wales captain Ashley Williams (circled, left and right) allegedly attacked an opposition coach at an Under 12s football match in Manchester as he watched his son play
The incident saw the September 18 match, between Corinthians and Williams’s TSC United at Manchester’s Wright-Robinson College, abandoned.
It is also understood that the BBC were made aware, but Williams subsequently appeared on an episode of Football Focus.
The fixture was in the East Manchester Junior Football League, which spawned the likes of England internationals Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
The incident was immediately reported to the EMJFL and the Football Association.
Witnesses said coaches went on to the pitch following a flashpoint between players.
The BBC were aware of the incident, which took place on September 18, but they still elected to book him to appear on Football Focus. (Pictured: Williams appearing on another BBC show)
They added: ‘Williams then came on and completely lost it.
‘He put a coach in a headlock. We’d never seen anything like it.
‘People were pleading with him to stop. Some of the children were crying and the coach’s family were there. Some parents eventually managed to get him off him but he kept breaking free only to be held back again.
‘It was utterly disgraceful behaviour from someone who should know better.’
A spokesman for the former Wales footballer claimed he was acting in self-defence and that ’45 witnesses’ can corroborate his version of events
A spokesperson for Williams said: ‘Ashley had been assaulted and was defending himself. We have 45 witnesses – including people associated with the two teams who were about to use the pitch – who will back up our version of events and we will defend Ashley vigorously.’
The incident comes at a time of widespread concern over the behaviour of parents and players at youth matches and concerns referees are being driven away for fear of attack.
Indeed, BBC Radio 5 Live this week examined the issue in depth.
Despite that, a BBC spokesperson said simply: ‘This is a personal matter for Ashley and the sport’s governing body.’ It is understood he will remain on air.
A former powerful centre-half, Williams made his name with Stockport County before moving to Swansea City, where he would spend most of his career.
Despite being born in Wolverhampton, he won 86 caps for Wales and is widely expected to form part of the BBC’s coverage at the forthcoming World Cup, at which Wales are taking part.
Williams, who is a McDonald’s Fun Football ambassador, also played for Everton, Stoke City and Bristol City.
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