Bellamy cleared of charge

16 March 2011 22:00
Craig Bellamy has been cleared of improper conduct after he was accused of being involved in an incident in the players' tunnel after Cardiff's match against Reading last month.

The forward, on loan at Cardiff from Manchester City, had been charged by the Football Association of Wales following the February 1 match at the Cardiff City Stadium. The match finished 2-2 after Bellamy scored a stoppage-time free-kick.

Although Cardiff were fined £5,000 for the behaviour of their players in the tunnel area after the final whistle, the separate charge against 31-year-old Bellamy was dismissed by an FAW disciplinary panel.

A statement from the FAW said: "The panel determined, in consideration of the evidence presented, that the charge against Craig Bellamy was found not proven."

Cardiff accepted the charge against the club relating to the tunnel disturbance, but they successfully challenged a separate alleged breach of rule 24.2.13, namely that their players had failed to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion during the npower Championship match.

Source: PA