Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho has offered a public apology to Cardiff City's players after two home supporters were ejected from Fratton Park during the clubs' Championship match, following incidents in which Cardiff defenders Krystian Bielik and Perry Ng were struck by fans.

What happened in the 72nd minute

With Portsmouth leading 2-0, Bielik went to retrieve the ball from the stands and became involved in a physical altercation with a supporter. Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said the Poland international "got slapped in the face". Footage circulating on social media after the match appeared to show Bielik grabbing a young fan around the upper body, though the sequence of events leading to that moment has been disputed.

Shortly afterwards, a second home supporter threw a ball at the head of Cardiff captain Perry Ng. Both fans were ejected from the ground. Notably, no players on either side were booked as a result of the incident, with Barry-Murphy praising the officials for their handling of the situation.

Mousinho: "We can't be having that"

Speaking after the final whistle, Mousinho was direct in his condemnation of the behaviour, even while stopping short of claiming he had seen it first-hand.

"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," the Portsmouth manager said. "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."

Mousinho acknowledged that Fratton Park has built a reputation as a hostile environment for visiting sides, but drew a clear line. "We want to create a really difficult atmosphere at Fratton Park, we have done that successfully over the past few years," he said. "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."

Barry-Murphy: "Not acceptable"

Cardiff's head coach was measured but unambiguous in his own assessment. "Krystian went to get the ball back from the stands and got slapped in the face," Barry-Murphy said. "I just wanted to make sure he was protected and make sure he was OK. He is."

Barry-Murphy said he expected the Football Association and Cardiff City to follow the correct procedures. "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. "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 will look at this and implement the correct process."

The wider picture for Cardiff

The incident overshadowed another difficult afternoon for Barry-Murphy's side. The 2-0 defeat left Cardiff without a win from their opening Championship fixtures, and questions about their defensive resilience and squad depth will continue given the injury concerns that have surfaced in recent weeks. Bielik, signed from West Brom and already identified as a key figure in midfield, was involved in the flashpoint just as Cardiff most needed calm heads and composure.

For Portsmouth, the win was their first home victory of the Championship season, a result that will provide genuine relief. But the manner in which the afternoon ended will concern anyone at Fratton Park who cares about the club's standing in the division. The Football Association is expected to review the incidents; whether that leads to any formal action against the club or the individuals involved remains to be seen.

What both managers agreed on is that players should be able to retrieve a ball from a touchline without fearing a physical confrontation. That ought not to be a controversial position.

Frequently asked

What happened to Krystian Bielik at Fratton Park?
Bielik was struck by a Portsmouth fan when he went to retrieve the ball from the stands in the 72nd minute. Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said he was "slapped in the face". The fan was subsequently ejected from the ground.
Did Portsmouth face any punishment for the fan incident?
At the time of the match no formal sanctions had been announced. Both fans involved were ejected from Fratton Park, and Barry-Murphy indicated that Cardiff and the FA would look into the matter and "implement the correct process".
What was the result of Portsmouth vs Cardiff City?
Portsmouth won 2-0, securing their first home victory of the Championship season, while Cardiff remain without a win from their opening fixtures.