Roy Hodgson has said Crystal Palace will punish Jason Puncheon only if the club captain is found guilty of committing a crime after he was charged with assault and possession of an offensive weapon following a night out last weekend.
Hodgson and Steve Parish, Palace’s chairman, held lengthy talks with Puncheon this week and have decided not to take disciplinary action until the conclusion of a police investigation into the 31-year-old’s arrest in the early hours of Sunday morning following an incident in Reigate, Surrey.
Reports alleged that Puncheon, who missed Palace’s 3-0 win at Leicester City on Saturday because of illness, became embroiled in a fight between two women at the Mishiko nightclub and was held in cells overnight before being released on bail, while a police spokesman confirmed that officers attended the scene at 2.20am. The midfielder is due to appear at Guildford magistrates court on 5 January but Hodgson said he will not be dropped for the trip to Swansea City on Saturday or stripped of the captaincy until the case is concluded.
“He is available for selection,” Palace’s manager said. “What the club is deciding to do is wait until the police investigation is completed. We are in full control, if you like, of the facts of the situation. When that happens and it is made clear to us what the police know, and he has had his trial, then we will decide what action to take. In the meantime, we are presuming he is innocent until he is proven guilty of any crime.
“I have spoken to him. But as far as any action is concerned, it will wait until the police have finished their review and court proceedings have taken place. We will then know exactly what happened that evening and what part he played in any proceedings and, if any action is necessary, then we will take it. But at the moment he remains club captain and available for selection.”
Hodgson also believes that Puncheon, who has not played since his appearance as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw with Everton on 18 November, is in the right state of mind to play against Swansea.
“We had a long conversation and that will remain private,” Hodgson said. “He had a similar conversation with the chairman. At the moment we don’t know the exact facts of the situation but he has made it clear to me that he is determined to do the best job he can as captain and player while the matter is sorted out.”
Hodgson was also asked about reports that Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are interested in signing Wilfried Zaha in January. “I don’t think you can guarantee anything,” he said.
“If the day comes that a rumour becomes a truth and there is a concrete situation, I’ll come to terms with it and will deal with it. I am very happy with what he is doing and, like most Palace fans, I want him to stay and I hope that day when he can no longer do it for Palace is a long way off.”
