West Brom's Roman Bednar: Defender's won't wind me up

Oct 8 2009

“The opposition? Only in the one game - seven Crystal Palace players were saying things.

“They said, ‘hey drug dealer’ and ‘you’re the one with the drugs’. That was my first experience of it.

“That was really disappointing - particularly the captain (Shaun Derry) who was the worst.

“I can handle the players. What got me more upset that day was the referee - he just smiles at you when you are trying to tell him he has made a hard decision. That’s what gets you more angry.

“But I feel stronger. This will be with me always but this is my life, football makes me happy and I don’t want to lose this. And I will make sure I don’t.”

Bednar has spoken about his ordeal on two occasions before, but yesterday he expanded on how his family had taken the news of his drugs sting.

“It was a difficult time for me,” he continued.

“My mother was sick and I had fallen out with my older brother, Ivan.

“We had lost contact with each other and that was upsetting for me.

“But I didn’t realise how big it was. It was as if it was the end of my life at that moment.

“I was even thinking about finishing with football - I was really questioning myself.

“I was really so disappointed with myself. I knew it was out of character.

“It was hardest to tell my mum. My father spoke to me as a man would. He told me that anyone can make mistakes but you really are an idiot if you don’t learn from them .

“But my mum? You know mums, they always take it very hard. She actually loves football and it wasn’t easy for me to tell her.

“But I must say. My family, my friends, the club, the lads, the support I have had has been wonderful.

“When I finally got back to training, I walked in to find a little package which when I opened was full of white washing powder. That’s the dressing room humour for you.

“That was my first day back. But they have been brilliant.”