Troy Deeney reacts as police investigate Portsmouth v Cardiff City incident | OneFootball

Troy Deeney has reacted to the incident involving Krystian Bielik and a Portsmouth fan during Cardiff City's 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park on Saturday

Troy Deeney has reacted to the high-profile altercation between Krystian Bielik and a Portsmouth supporter during Cardiff City's 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park over the weekend, urging a ban to be sanctioned for the Bluebirds defender amid a fresh police probe.

The incident has grabbed more headlines than the match itself, which saw Cardiff limp to a second successive defeat on the road in just three days as Portsmouth sealed their first win at Fratton Park in the 2026/27 campaign.

Bielik went unpunished for his role in the confrontation in the remainder of the fixture, although the 11-cap Polish international is now staring at the prospect of a formal ban only two weeks after joining Brian Barry-Murphy's side in a permanent deal from Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion.

With the police also investigating the matter in a fresh development, Deeney has now weighed in with his own thoughts - having formerly played with Bielik at Birmingham City.

Krystian Bielik involved in controversial fan incident during Portsmouth v Cardiff City

During the latter stages of the encounter, Bielik found himself involved in a serious physical altercation with a home supporter upon attempting to retrieve the ball from the crowd.

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Video footage widely-circulated online appears to show the young fan throwing the ball away from Bielik, only for the 28-year-old to retaliate in a manner that could now have big repercussions.

Bielik appeared to grab the supporter around his upper body, with many Portsmouth fans present alleging him to have been grabbed by his throat, and Bluebirds boss Barry-Murphy then claimed that his player was "slapped in the face" in response.

The fan was promptly ejected from the stadium while Bielik's actions went without immediate punishment before opposition manager John Mousinho apologised to Cardiff's players in his post-match press conference, although both clubs are now investigating the matter alongside Hampshire Police after they were notified of the incident during the game.

Troy Deeney reacts to Krystian Bielik fan incident in Portsmouth v Cardiff City

Bielik has been condemned for his action by many online across recent days, and with the matter under investigation from clubs and authorities alike as the FA also weigh up the possibility of taking action, there's every chance that the ex-Arsenal prospect will face a ban.

If, or exactly how long Bielik could get banned for, both remain somewhat unclear at this moment in time, although Deeney has urged the FA to reprimand the Bluebirds player in "the right way".

Deeney, who spent a season playing alongside Bielik at Birmingham during the 2022/23 campaign, has slammed his former teammate and believes that the investigation needs to be "done properly".

Speaking on talkSPORT, the ex-striker-turned-pundit explained: "I played with him at Birmingham City and trust me, if that kid would've just farted near him he would've **** himself.

"I cannot believe that you would grab a fan. Trust me, in my day I've wanted to, I've had people say and do all sorts.

"You can't grab a fan, especially when it's a kid.

"I think he should be reprimanded in the right way. For the first time ever, I'd actually ask for FA Sam to get involved to make sure that this is done properly."

Potential Krystian Bielik ban is exactly what Cardiff City did not need

It would be safe to assume that some action will be taken against Bielik in the form of a likely ban despite the supporter being the one to receive immediate punishment, with many sharing much more sympathy with the young punter as opposed to the player in question.

Of course, the authorities could see it somewhat differently - although it's hard to see a world in which the defender emerges from the fall-out of the incident unscathed and that's precisely what Cardiff did not need right now.

That, quite rightly, has only amplified frustrations from Cardiff supporters, and Bielik's Bluebirds career has certainly got off to a difficult start following one draw and two successive defeats in his opening three matches.

Following promotion from League One, Cardiff have begun the new term dealing with a significant defensive crisis with Calum Chambers, Will Fish and Dylan Lawlor all out injured and yet to play a single minute in the second-tier, which had forced Barry-Murphy to play full-backs in Joel Bagan and Perry Ng at the centre of his backline before landing Bielik's signature at the end of last month.