FOOTBALL
Posted on March 12, 2026 7:00 pm | Updated on March 12, 2026 2:00 pm
Chelsea had a difficult night against PSG in the UEFA Champions League. Their winger Pedro Neto found himself at the centre of an unusual moment that quickly caught attention.
In stoppage time, shortly after PSG scored their fourth goal, Neto pushed a ball boy while trying to collect the ball quickly. The young assistant fell back onto a chair, and the incident immediately created tension on the touchline. Players from both teams reacted, and a brief confrontation followed.
The situation added another dramatic moment to a match that had already been full of goals and emotion. After the final whistle, Neto admitted his actions were wrong and publicly apologised for what happened. He said emotions took control of him in that moment.
Neto Explains What Happened
Speaking after the match, Neto explained that the moment came during a rush to restart play. Chelsea were already losing heavily and the winger wanted the ball quickly so the game could continue.
In that rush, he placed both hands on the ball boy and pushed him aside. Pedro Neto later said the action was not intentional aggression but a reaction in the heat of the game. He also confirmed that he went back to speak to the ball boy personally.
Because the young assistant did not speak English well and Neto’s French is limited, midfielder Vitinha helped translate the apology after the final whistle outside the pitch area where they spoke calmly together for a moment before leaving the field.
A Personal Apology After the Game
According to Pedro Neto, the situation ended in a friendly way. He said the ball boy eventually laughed about the moment once everything was explained. As a gesture of apology, Neto gave the youngster his match shirt and repeated that he was sorry many times.
The Portuguese winger said he told the ball boy he was not normally someone who behaves like that. The emotional pressure of the match played a big role in the reaction.
Football games at the highest level can become extremely intense, especially when a team is chasing the match and struggling to respond after conceding several late goals in quick succession during the closing minutes of the contest that night in Paris stadium in Paris again.
Liam Rosenior, the Chelsea head coach, also addressed the incident after the match. He said he had not seen the full replay yet but supported Neto’s decision to apologise immediately.
Rosenior explained that if any behaviour from Chelsea players crossed the line, the club would take responsibility. At the same time, he reminded reporters that the game itself had been very emotional for everyone involved.
Chelsea had been fighting hard for most of the match before the result slipped away in the final minutes when PSG scored several late goals that changed the mood of the night.
This completely leaving the visitors frustrated and disappointed after the final whistle in Paris on Wednesday evening at the famous Parc des Princes.
Author’s Opinion
In my opinion the match itself was also difficult for Chelsea on the night. The London side lost five two to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League round of sixteen tie.
For long periods the game remained competitive but mistakes and late goals allowed the French team to pull away. Substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice late in the game sealing the result and giving PSG a strong advantage before the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will now need a response from players and staff if they want to keep their Champions League hopes alive in front of their home supporters next week in London where the pressure will be intense for everyone involved at the club and fans.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add Six Sports as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Add as a preferred source on Google
Aarya Sikder
Aarya Sikder is a Football Writer at Six Sports, contributing articles on football match developments, player performances, and news from across the football world. His work focuses on delivering engaging and informative coverage that keeps readers updated on key events and emerging storylines in the sport. Through his contributions to Six Sports, Aarya provides match reports, tactical insights, and feature articles that highlight trends and narratives shaping football today. His writing combines clarity with accessible analysis, making it engaging for both casual fans and dedicated followers of the sport.
Mentioned in this Article
Recommended for you