Craig Bellamy denies claims of bullying at Cardiff City and has vowed to clear his name. Reuters
Craig Bellamy denies claims of bullying at Cardiff City and has vowed to clear his name. Reuters

Cardiff City youth coach Craig Bellamy steps down over bullying claims



Cardiff City Under 18 coach Craig Bellamy has denied allegations that he bullied an academy player but stepped down from his role on Thursday pending an investigation from the Premier League side.

British media reports said Cardiff had received a complaint against former Wales captain Bellamy over his alleged treatment of a young English player who has since left the club.

Cardiff have begun an investigation and former Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United striker Bellamy said that he was fully cooperating.

"I am aware of the allegations that have been made against me via the media," Bellamy said in a statement.

"I understand the need for Cardiff City to undertake a full investigation in response to these allegations - and my own suggestion - I have temporarily removed myself from my coaching position in order to co-operate fully with the club's inquiry.

"Obviously, I am saddened both by the allegations and the manner in which they were made and I categorically refute them."

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Read more:

Manchester United off to Dubai so they have legs in March and April, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Pep Guardiola wary of Liverpool's hunger for the Premier League title as he plots Manchester City's recovery

Ian Hawkey: Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool return to Manchester City with a stronger backbone

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Bellamy said he had sought legal advice as to his position and expected to return to his role once the investigation had been completed.

The 39-year-old Welshman retired from playing in 2014 following a two-year stint with his hometown club Cardiff before taking up a coaching role in their academy.

Elsewhere, Southampton striker Charlie Austin has been charged after appearing to make an obscene gesture towards Manchester City supporters, the English Football Association said on Thursday.

Austin was caught making a two-fingered gesture towards a section of booing away fans at St Mary's while being substituted during Southampton's 3-1 Premier League defeat on Sunday.

"It is alleged that Mr Austin's gesture in or around the 68th minute of the fixture was abusive and/or insulting," the FA said in a statement.

Austin has until 6pm on January 7 to respond to the charge.

Avatar%20(2009)
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Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

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The%20Boy%20and%20the%20Heron
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The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

US households add $601bn of debt in 2019

American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.

Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.

In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.

The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.

"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro
Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books 


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