Apology: Chelsea winger Pedro Neto says sorry to PSG ball boy after pushing him
Chelsea Football Newsletter
Neto pushed a ball boy as he looked to retrieve possession quickly during stoppage time of Wednesday night’s 5-2 defeat by holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 first-leg tie at the Parc des Princes.
The Portuguese international apologised for his actions after the game, telling TNT Sports: “I want to apologise to the ball boy. I have already spoken to him.
“We were losing and in the emotion of the game I wanted to get the ball fast and I gave him a little push.
“I'm not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologise. I gave him my shirt. I'm really sorry about it - I feel I have to apologise to him.
“My French is not very good, and [Portugal team-mate] Vitinha came over and said to him I was not like this.
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“At the end he [the ball boy] laughed and I gave him my shirt and said sorry about 35 times. He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation.”
However, UEFA have now opened disciplinary proceedings against Neto for “unsporting behaviour” and he could face a one-match ban in the Champions League.
“Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against... Pedro Lomba Neto for unsporting behaviour in accordance with Article 15(1)(a)(v) of UEFA Disciplinary Regulations,” read a UEFA statement on Thursday.
“UEFA’s disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course.”
More to follow