ASHLEY WILLIAMS has been cleared of improper conduct and violent, threatening behaviour by the Football Association.
The ex-Wales captain was charged by the FA for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to attacking an opposition coach during an Under-12s game in Manchester in which his son was playing.
But an FA disciplinary commission found the charge against 38-year-old Williams to be not proven.
Former Swansea and Everton defender Williams attended a personal hearing to contest the charge.
An FA statement read: “A Disciplinary Commission of The FA has found a charge against Ashley Williams for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 to be not proven.
“It was alleged that Ashley Williams’ conduct at a grassroots football match in Manchester last month was improper, and that his behaviour included violent conduct and/or threatening and/or abusive language, and Manchester FA charged him with a breach of FA Rule E3 after a full investigation.
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“Ashley Williams denied the charge and requested a personal hearing where the Disciplinary Commission subsequently found the charge to be not proven. Its written reasons for this decision will be published in due course.”
Williams, who won 86 caps for Wales and led his country to the Euro 2016 semi-finals in France, will be part of the BBC’s team for the World Cup in Qatar as the Dragons make their first finals appearance since 1958.
It was believed that the retired defender “completely lost it” at his son’s youth game as it was reported that he ran onto the pitch to confront a man following an incident with Williams’ child.
The other team’s coach had tried to calm the situation before the now BBC pundit lost his temper.
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Witnesses said that Williams refused to let the man go after putting him in a headlock and the match was subsequently abandoned.
However, a spokesman for the ex-Toffee’s star said he was acting in self-defence and witnesses would support that.
The statement read: “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.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
