By Matthew Jones
September 8 2003

The Welsh FA, along with Wales coach Mark Hughes have confirmed that they are considering taking legal action with Newcastle over the Craig Bellamy injury row. The Welsh FA, along with Wales coach Mark Hughes have confirmed that they are considering taking legal action with Newcastle over the Craig Bellamy injury row.

Bellamy was part of the Wales' squad as they crashed 4-0 to Italy in Milan on Saturday. He played the game, despite immense pressure from Sir Bobby Robson to withdraw from the squad.

Craig was struggling with a knee injury at St James' Park, which has kept him sidelined for the last three Magpies' games.

The club's chief operating officer Russell Cushing branded Mark Hughes as "disgraceful" for his supposed part in persuading the to striker play (and ensuring him of his fitness) at the San Siro.

Hughes and his bosses in Cardiff are going to take legal advice over Cushing's words which were put up on the official club website, before they were hurridly deleted.

"Legal advice has certainly been taken by ourselves and will be considered after we have played our European Championship qualifier against Finland on Wednesday," said Welsh FA spokesman Ceri Stennett.

"It's important we focus solely on events on the field for the next few days but his [Cushing's] reported remarks will then be up for further serious discussion."

Hughes admitted: "There were comments attributed to me which I felt very strongly about and I will be taking advice when I get home."