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Football attack charges dropped after player injured

Nelli Bird
BBC Wales
Oliver Slow
BBC News
Avenue Hotspur Joe Collins holding crutches with one leg in a black brace. He has short dark hair and has stubble, and is wearing a grey Nike hoodie and white shorts. He is standing indoors with a grey wall and white door behind him. Avenue Hotspur
Joel Collins required surgery after sustaining a "life-changing injury" to his leg following the game

Prosecutors have dropped a case against two men accused of a violent attack following a local Saturday league match.

Joel Collins, 32, from Ely, Cardiff, was left with a broken kneecap and required surgery after the alleged incident, which occurred in Llanrumney in October.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it offered no evidence against Benjamin Dean, 28, from the Trowbridge area and 23-year-old Ryan Rees from Llanrumney, who were charged in connection with the alleged incident.

The pair had pleaded not guilty to violent disorder following the game between Avenue Hotspur and Llanrumney Athletic and were due to stand trial later this year.

A spokesperson for Mr Collins' team, Avenue Hotspur, said the group were "disappointed" with the outcome but wanted to "move on".

The club added Mr Collins was in "fantastic spirits" and hoped to return to playing next season.

"The support he and Avenue as a club have received over [the] past few months has been phenomenal and we are grateful to everyone for the messages and calls of support and solidarity," the club added.