Pedro Neto Regrets Pushing PSG Ball Boy
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto apologized after an incident involving a ball boy during the UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. The Portuguese forward admitted his reaction came from the frustration of the moment.
The clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at the Parc des Princes produced more than just a decisive result in the Champions League Round of 16. Late in the match, tensions escalated when Pedro Neto pushed a ball boy while trying to quickly retrieve the ball.
The incident occurred during stoppage time, when Chelsea were desperately searching for a late response while trailing against PSG. The Portuguese winger grabbed the ball from the youngster and pushed him to the ground, prompting angry reactions from several Paris Saint-Germain players and sparking a brief confrontation between both teams.
Pedro Neto Issues Public Apology
After the match, Pedro Neto acknowledged that his behavior was inappropriate and publicly apologized to the ball boy involved in the incident. The winger explained that the situation unfolded in the heat of the game as he tried to restart play quickly.
The Chelsea player confirmed that he had already spoken with the youngster personally to apologize and even gave him his jersey as a gesture of goodwill.
“I want to apologize for what happened. It was a moment of frustration because we were losing and I wanted to get the ball quickly. I’m not someone who behaves like that,” the Portuguese forward said.
Despite the controversy, the referee did not issue any punishment to Pedro Neto during the match.
A Difficult Night for Chelsea
The episode came during a challenging night for Chelsea, who suffered a heavy defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. The English side collapsed late in the game, conceding several goals in the final minutes.
One of the turning points came after a costly mistake from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who attempted to play the ball out from his own penalty area. The pass was intercepted, allowing PSG midfielder Vitinha to score with a lobbed finish that made it 3–2.
From that moment, the momentum shifted completely, and Chelsea conceded two additional goals, leaving them with a significant deficit ahead of the second leg.
Chelsea Manager Also Apologizes
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior also addressed the situation during the post-match press conference. The manager offered an apology on behalf of the club if any actions from his players were out of line.
The incident reminded many fans of a similar moment involving former Chelsea star Eden Hazard, who was sent off in 2013 for kicking a ball boy during a League Cup semifinal match against Swansea.
