Hazard kicks ballboy

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has apologised for kicking a ballboy who was preventing him from retrieving the ball in the League Cup semifinal against Swansea City on Wednesday.

Hazard, who was sent off, later met the 17-year-old named locally as Charlie Morgan, son of the Swansea City director Martin Morgan, in the Chelsea dressing room and apologised for the incident.

Swansea, who won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, held on for a goalless draw at Liberty Stadium to set up a final against Bradford City but the main talking point was the bizarre altercation that led to the Chelsea midfielder’s red card 12 minutes from time.

Belgian Hazard said he had not intended to boot the ballboy. “The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy,” Hazard told Chelsea TV, according to the club's official website (www.chelseafc.com).

“I apologise. 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.”

The red card shown by referee Chris Foy will lead the 22-year-old to be banned for three games, though there may be scope for that sanction to be extended.

“They have apologised to each other,” Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez told reporters. “They knew they were both wrong. He (the ballboy) was wasting time. Hazard wanted to get the ball back quickly and he was kicking. They both made mistakes.

Premier League players reacted to the incident on social media with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand condemning the Belgian's actions, while Stoke striker Michael Owen felt both parties were to blame.