Huth accepts FA charge over Upson clash

Stoke City defender pleaded guilty Tuesday to a Football Association (FA) charge of violent conduct levelled against him for a clash with West Ham’s Matthew Upson at the Britannia Stadium last weekend.

Huth appeared to swing an arm into Upson’s face as the pair tried to gain position at a free-kick during Saturday’s Premier League match but, with Stoke 2-1 up, the eventual full-time score, the incident went unseen by referee Martin Atkinson.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the club said: “Stoke City Football Club and Robert Huth accept the FA charge of violent conduct and would like to apologise for the incident at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

“All players were briefed at the beginning of the season about obstructing opponents at set-plays and Robert reacted in frustration at being impeded by Matthew Upson for the second time in the game, stopping him from marking James Tomkins at set-pieces as instructed.”

The statement added: “Robert Huth?s actions are totally out of character for a fully committed defender who has only received one red card – for two cautions – in nearly eight years of playing in the Premier League.

“We await the FA verdict on the incident.”

Huth’s case will be considered by a regulatory commission on Thursday.