Bellamy awaits fate from FA
Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy will learn tomorrow whether he is to be banned from his club’s Premiership run-in when he goes in front on an FA disciplinary challenge.
The 23-year-old Welshman will attend a personal hearing in York tomorrow morning after being charged with using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official during his side’s 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on March 5.
It is understood that Bellamy, who requested a hearing to put his case, will admit the offence.
United will hope any punishment will take the form of a fine rather than a ban, which could rule him out of key games as they attempt to secure their place in next season’s Champions League.
Bellamy missed the end of last season after picking up a troublesome knee injury, and many commentators believe that cost his side any chance of mounting a surprise title challenge.
This time around, Newcastle are still fighting for points after seeing their efforts to reel in Manchester United and Arsenal undone by successive defeats by Everton, United and, on Saturday, Fulham.
The Wales international would also be a relieved man if he avoided a ban after missing six of his side’s Champions League games this season through suspension.
He picked up a three-match ban after being convicted on video evidence of head-butting Dynamo Kiev defender Tiberiu Ghione in a 2-0 defeat in the Ukraine, and then was hit with a similar penalty after being sent off for lashing out at Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi.
Despite the growing maturity of England Under-21 international Shola Ameobi, Sir Bobby Robson believes that Bellamy’s partnership with Alan Shearer, who scored his 25th goal of the season at Loftus Road on Saturday, is his number one combination in attack.
United face relegated duo Sunderland and West Brom and Birmingham in their last three games of the season, and the presence of their most direct player will be a major plus if they are to reap the rewards of another good season by clinching a top-four finish.
Bellamy has had to contend with his fair share of problems both on and off the field since making his move to Tyneside two summers ago, and although Robson has worked hard to harness his abrasive style when he has his boots on, he landed himself in hot water away from his club once again last month.
He was allegedly involved in an incident at a Cardiff nightclub after meeting up with his Welsh colleagues for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Azerbaijan, and the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that he has been summonsed to appear before magistrates in connection with a public order offence.
Despite the furore over the incident, Bellamy played in the game a few days later and scored as Wales ran out 4-0 winners.
