Former Bristol City defender Ashley Williams has been charged by the Manchester County FA following an incident at an under-12's match.
The Mail report that Williams has been accused of improper conduct and violent and threatening behaviour at the fixture in Manchester after entering the field of play to confront an opposition coach in a match involving his son. Williams is said to deny the charges and a spokesman told the Mail he has "45 witnesses" to back up his claim that he acted in self-defence.
The game, which took place in September and was subsequently abandoned, was between Corinthians and Williams's TSC United at Manchester's Wright-Robinson College in the East Manchester Junior Football League.
A spokesman for Manchester County FA said: "Following an investigation, Mr Williams has been charged by Manchester FA with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (including violent conduct and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour), and has responded to the charge requesting a personal hearing."
The 38-year-old made 33 appearances for the Robins during the 2019/20 campaign in what proved his last season as a professional after making his debut for Stockport County in 2003.
Williams was an emergency free transfer signing by Lee Johnson in August after Tomas Kalas sustained an early-season injury and after the Robins had failed to replace Adam Webster after he was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Initially signing on a short-term deal, he scored in a 2-2 draw at Barnsley and 5-2 win over Huddersfield Town at Ashton Gate, helping earn him a new contract until the end of the season. The centre-back also earned red cards against Brentford and Nottingham Forest, in his penultimate appearance for the club.
Since retiring, Williams, who was capped 86 times by Wales and earned more than 200 Premier League appearances with Swansea City and Everton, has been a BBC pundit appearing on Football Focus, Match of the Day and international coverage.
A spokesperson for Williams said Williams was defending himself, adding: “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.”
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