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Benitez vows to act over Bellamy 'golf club attack'
Independent
By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Published: 19 February 2007

The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, last night promised an internal club investigation and potential disciplinary action after their preparations for the Champions League tie against Barcelona on Wednesday suffered a serious setback with allegations that Craig Bellamy attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club at a training camp in Portugal.

Last night, Liverpool tried to reassure supporters by releasing authorised pictures of Bellamy and Riise training together yesterday in what looked like amicable circumstances. It would appear Benitez is determined not to allow anything to affect his preparations for the game at the Nou Camp, although Bellamy's long-term future at the club is by no means certain. The Spanish manager also called a squad meeting to remind all the players of their responsibilities towards the club.

The alleged attack took place while Benitez's squad took advantage of a week without any fixtures by training at the Algarve Vale do Lobo resort for five days. Bellamy is alleged to have attacked Riise after the Norwegian international's refusal of his offer to join in a karaoke session at a bar escalated into a full-blown argument. The News of the World alleged that Bellamy mulled over the slight before seeking out Riise, 25, and struck him about the legs with a golf club.

In a statement released yesterday, Benitez said that he would be investigating the events of that night and promised punishments for those involved. It is also alleged that Jerzy Dudek was involved in a separate incident; the 33-year-old goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the season.

"I met this morning with the entire first-team squad and made it absolutely clear to all of them the responsibilities that come with playing for this club and the way they are expected to conduct themselves both on and off the pitch," Benitez said.

"The players worked extremely hard at last week's training camp, but we will take disciplinary action and fine any of them who are found to have breached club rules during our stay in Portugal. I've told the players this and they understand and accept the decision I have taken.

"Despite reports to the contrary, the spirit amongst the lads is very good with everyone looking forward to the game against Barcelona on Wednesday. We remain totally focused on what will be a very tough game against the defending European champions."

Allegations that Liverpool players caused damage to the hotel they were staying in, the Barringtons Centro Desportivo are, it is understood, completely unfounded. The club had gone there at relatively short notice after their elimination from the FA Cup by Arsenal gave them a clear run without any fixtures between the defeat to Newcastle on 10 February and Wednesday's game.

Bellamy joined Liverpool in July after Benitez exploited a buyout clause in his Blackburn Rovers contract that allowed the player to leave if a club involved in the Champions League made a bid for him. Paying £6.5m for the Welsh international with a history of violence on the pitch, and a controversial life off it, Benitez said that he was satisfied that Bellamy was sufficiently reformed as a character to play for Liverpool.

Benitez said at the time he had spoken to different people about the player, a childhood Liverpool fan, and satisfied himself he would not be a risk. "We know about the past, but we think the future can be very good, for him and us," Benitez said in July. "We analysed his background and talked to him clearly and honestly. He's more mature."

Reports of an attack on one of his key players prompted the Norway manager, Age Hareide, to ring Riise, 26, to check on his physical well-being. Hareide told Norwegian journalists: "John Arne is fine. He escaped without injuries."