Ashley Williams has been charged by the FA after the BBC pundit ‘attacks a coach’ in his son’s U12s match with parents stepping in.
The former footballer has been punished for improper conduct and violent, threatening behaviour after putting an opposition coach in a headlock at an Under 12s football match.
In staggering scenes in front of shocked children, he is said to have ‘completely lost it’ at the fixture in Manchester, in which his son was playing.
A spokesman for the ex-Premier League and EFL star 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 witnesses, the 38-year-old entered the pitch to confront an opposition coach who had intervened after Williams’s son had been involved in an exchange with an opponent.
Williams is said to have reacted furiously, allegedly grappling with the man in front of his own son and wife, and refused to let go of him.
Footage after the incident showed other parents trying to drag Williams away as kids watched what was happening with the game halted before being abandoned.
On a number of occasions he attempts to wrestle free and attempt to storm back towards the coach.
Witnesses have said the ex-player continued to abuse two opposition coaches.
Yet a representative for Williams was adamant he was assaulted first. He has responded to the charge and requested a personal hearing.
Here’s the video I caught of the #Ashleywilliams youth football match where he had a full on fight in the middle of the pitch under 12s game
They guy says he was protecting himself ye ok then what about the head butts and punches you were throwing in the middle of the pitch pic.twitter.com/p4oclMOjFi— Ten Hag’s Red Army (@Talkunited22) October 12, 2022
The incident came during the match, played on the 18th of September 2022, between Corinthians and Williams’s TSC United at Manchester’s Wright-Robinson College.
It is also understood that the BBC were made aware, but Williams has continued to appear on an episode of Football Focus.
The fixture was in the East Manchester Junior Football League, which has helped develop the careers of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
The incident was reported to the EMJFL and the Football Association.
Witnesses said coaches went on to the pitch following a flashpoint between players.
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 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 as BBC launch a report into the behaviour of parents and players at youth matches and concerns referees are being driven away for fear of attack.
BBC Radio 5 Live this week examined the issue in depth with a BBC spokesperson said on the matter of Williams: ‘This is a personal matter for Ashley and the sport’s governing body.’ It is understood he will remain on air.
As a powerful centre-half, Williams started out 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 become 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 the likes of Everton, Stoke City and Bristol City.
This is what fans had to say with Ashley Williams charged by the FA after the BBC pundit ‘attacks a coach’ in his son’s U12s match…
@stu_wadey49: Don’t know the full facts but the second a parent is entering the field of play they become the aggressor. Sort yourselves out and let the kids play 😡
@jameswr4: Absolute baffoon
@phil_leckey: Lol wtf
@DannyP_72: Kids Football and he’s brawling. Chance to make a statement here and kick him out
@JamesCaldwell69: There is something about parents watching their kids in age group football that turns them into animals
@neal_mcd: Hey @SkySportsNews do you think this lad needs some education? You might ask him. #justsaying
@Shellhallswort1: This was shocking! Relly felt for the kids when all this was going off, awful to of seen, what a 🔔🔚
@JohnBellKelman: What an appalling example to set your son.
@LinBibby1: How outrageous. Great example to set.
@miktorVeldre: It happens every Saturday at youth football in every village & town in the UK, parents who see their kids as their retirement income berating volunteer officials. I can only imagine they see the professionals doing it and think it’s part of the game. Disgraceful!
Hope they throw the book at ex-Wales captain and BBC pundit Ashley Williams who stormed on to a pitch in Manchester and attacked an opposition coach at an Under 12s match where his son had been in an exchange with an opponent. This parental violence is totally unacceptable.
— Kelvin MacKenzie (@kelvmackenzie) October 12, 2022

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