Chelsea star Eden Hazard had been under fire for kicking a ball boy. CBS reported that Hazard kicked the 17-year-old ball boy when he attempted to get the ball during a League semifinal match against Swansea.
Hazard apologized to the teenager and will not face any charges. However he will have a minimum three-match ban because of his conduct, reported CBS.
The Belgium winger has apologized to the ball boy - and will not face criminal charges - but will be handed a minimum three-match ban for violent conduct, depriving Chelsea of one of its top players.
"It is an extraordinary incident," former referee Dermot Gallagher said to CBS. "There's no defense for that. Someone said it was borne out of frustration but you have to accept it. It was an extreme, but you can't have that at a football match."
Chelsea manager, Rafa Benitez expressed disappointment in the incident.
"I do not know what you expect from me," he said to CBS. "Do you think we are not disappointed with the situation, that we do not regret what happened? Do you want to change things? We cannot."
The Daily Mail reported that the boy who was kicked by Hazard has been emerged as Charlie Morgan, 17, who is the son of hotel tycoon Martin Morgan-the 32nd richest person in Wales.
Martin Morgan is on the Swansea City board of directors which is how Charlie got to be a ballboy for the League semi-final.
Hazard apparently got frustrated and angry when Charlie fell to the ground and landed on the ball which cost Chelsea valuable time. The Daily Mail reported that Hazard tried to kick the ball from under the boy but instead ended up kicking him in the ribs before he grabbed the ball and ran.
Hazard, 22, joined the team for £32million from the French team, Lille. Charlie was examined by medics in an ambulance but was not seriously injured by the kick in the ribs.
The Daily Mail reported that Hazard told Chelsea TV post incident that "The boy put his whole body onto the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise," he said."The ballboy came in the changing room and we had a quick chat and I apologised and the boy apologised as well, and it is over. Sorry."
Swansea won the match and the team had differing points of view on the incident. Swansea captain Ashley Williams said to The Daily Mail,
"Demba Ba said he was holding on to the ball, but I saw him (Hazard) kick him in the ribs. You can't do that to a little boy."
While Joey Barton tweeted, "Hazards only crime is he hasn't kicked him hard enough."
Former Chelsea and England manager Glenn Hoddle said that sometimes managers tell ballboys to waste time, sympathizing with Hazard.
He said to Sky Sports, "As a manager, if you've got ballboys, you will tell people instructing the ballboys that if you're winning the game, don't give the ball back quickly."
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