Thread: Belgian footballer sent off for kicking ball boy

Chelsea's Eden Hazard has apologised for kicking a ball boy during their Capital One Cup exit to Swansea.

The Belgian was trying to retrieve the ball from under the ball boy who had fallen on top of it.
Twitter reaction

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand: "I'm not the authorities but in my eyes it's a red for all those asking. Us players do put refs in bad spots at times unfortunately!"

Everton captain Phil Neville: "You can't kick the ball boy that's not right so I again agree with Chris Foy - red card!"

Stoke striker Michael Owen: "Both the kid and Hazard were in the wrong. Not having Hazard tried to hurt him though. He just tried to toe poke it out of his grip."

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright: "To be fair, the ball boy and Hazard acted poorly. It was something you don't see everyday! Can't help smiling. Congrats Swansea by the way."

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale: "Unbelievable decision by the referee to send Hazard off but congrats to Swansea. Who'd have predicted this final?!"



Hazard, who was shown a straight red card by referee Chris Foy, later told Chelsea TV: "The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball.

"I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise."

South Wales Police say they will investigate the incident, which happened when the ball went out for a goal kick in the 80th minute of the match.

Swansea City media manager Jonathan Wilshere said: "The police have interviewed the boy, whose name we cannot give because he is under 18 and a vulnerable person.

"He and his father spoke to police and they are not pressing charges.

"He's been into the Chelsea dressing room and shook hands with Hazard. John Terry and Frank Lampard were exemplary in welcoming him into the Chelsea dressing room."

Blues boss Rafael Benitez said both player and ball boy apologised to each other after the match at Liberty Stadium.

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He added: "They both recognise there was a mistake.

"The boy was apologising for time wasting. Hazard was frustrated and tried to get the ball. He was kicking the ball and getting the ball.

"We can analyse if for half an hour but we know that both are wrong.
"We will deal with it internally, that's all I can say."

Chelsea and Swansea drew the match 0-0, with the Swans progressing to the final with a 2-0 win on aggregate.

The Blues needed to win 2-0 to take the match to extra time, but were unable to find a breakthrough in Wales.
The ref's view

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told BBC Radio 5 live: "There was a precedent when Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was sent off for throwing a coin into the crowd against Arsenal at Highbury in 2002.

"Referee Chris Foy was absolutely correct to send off Eden Hazard, it is violent conduct. He has quite rightly sent him off. He will report it as an act of violent conduct to the FA."



Swansea captain Ashley Williams said after the match: "Demba Ba told me that the boy held on to it. I saw him [Hazard] kick him in the ribs, and you can't do that."

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup commented: "I think he [Hazard] will regret it when he sees it. The ball boy should have let it go but he was pushed first and then he kicks him.

"I understand as a player when you are behind and you are under pressure you sometimes say or do things you shouldn't but there are some things you cannot do."

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told BBC Radio 5 live: "There was a precedent when Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was sent off for throwing a coin into the crowd against Arsenal at Highbury in 2002.

"Referee Chris Foy was absolutely correct to send off Eden Hazard, it is violent conduct. He has quite rightly sent him off. He will report it as an act of violent conduct to the FA."

Hazard puts the boot in



Ashley Williams looks pretty darn angry about it



Demba Ba goes over to check that the ballboy is okay. From the look on his face, he isn't



Williams then helps the youngster to get to his feet



Hazard seems to think it was just a silly incident and smiles as he returns to speak with his Chelsea team-mates, but the referee thinks differently and sends him off

Chelsea fucked over my a fucking Jack child..... gotta laugh.....

What was the ballboy doing laying all over the ball?

The most ridiculous aspect of this non event is that the police have investigated it.

The police, who rarely investigate car thefts, burglaries or assaults these days, have suddenly got the time and manpower to wastefully investigate this silly footballing faux pas.

If the footballers foot had come close to the lads groin, perhaps they could have accused him of sexual assault and put him on the sex offenders register for twenty five years.

What a silly place the uk has become.

Shocking haircut, he deserved a kick for that if nothing else!!!

Looked like he kicked the ball to me. The 'kid' (Walcott and Rooney were both playing for England at the same age) is the chairmans son or something. I certainly carry no flame for the Rusian mob, but this is the type of shit that gives football a bad rep.

Originally Posted by r1 pet

got kicked for his stupidity,(accidentlly in my opinion)

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Looked like he kicked the ball to me.

Even the ball boys in wendyball are pussies. Little tap like that and he rolls around as if he's just been shot.

^ Should be banned for life.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Chelsea fucked over my a fucking Jack child..... gotta laugh.....

Gotta laugh else you'd cry eh Bob.




Hazard was a twat and deserved his red. The referee does have a watch on his wrist.

Fair play to Swansea though, they have the fourth tiered Bradford City in the final and should go onto lift the cup now.

I wonder if that little cnut has a ticket for the Final.
I bet he will be sat in a private box with all his mates supping Champagne all courtesy of Mr. Hazard

Should have kicked the time-wasting Taff tw@t in the fecking head.

He's a Jack not a Taff and don't you forget it........

Yep, the kick never even touched the little prick.

Just another example of Hi So footballers getting away with what ever they want criminally.But a red card for kicking a ball boy on the field of play.

This lad's job was to retrieve the ball as quickly as possible to prevent unnecessary delay in play.

He may very well receive a free ticket to the final but i doubt very much if he will be employed as a bb in future.

If he wishes to delay the game by smothering the ball then he should perhaps try goalkeeping

After the red card, the poofballist should have gone over and kicked him in the head. Bloody nancy.

The ball-boy dived.

Lucky the Chelsea twat did the kicking in front of his own supporters otherwise i reckon he would have been on the recieving end of one or two boots off the heathen Welchmen before the ref could send him off.

In the same situation, Tevez or Suarez would have rolled in agony to the other side of the pitch and probably been taken off on a stretcher.

Much ado about nothing - Hazard kicked the ball but the red card was still deserved. The little prick made a perfect meal out of it.

Just stupidity, nothing malicious.

The incident was much worse than first imagined.

Geeeeeeeeeeeees this game has turned into a girlies game.
what a bunch of fags

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

The incident was much worse than first imagined.