Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has apologised to the ballboy who was the centre of attention after the Capital One Cup semi-final, second leg in Swansea finished goalless.
With time running out, Hazard was sent off after kicking out at the prostrate youth who was lying on top of the ball at the side of the pitch at the Liberty Stadium.
South Wales police questioned the boy and his father after the game but will not take the matter any further.
Hazard told Chelsea TV: "The boy put his whole body onto the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. 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."
Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez added: "The ballboy knows he was wasting time. We are disappointed to lose the player but we cannot change things. 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 it for half an hour but we know that both are wrong."
A Swansea spokesman said: "The police have interviewed the boy and his father and there are no charges going to be pressed, as far as they are concerned that is the matter closed.
"The ballboy has been into the Chelsea dressing room after the game and shaken hands with Eden Hazard. The likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard were exemplary in their behaviour in welcoming him into the dressing room.
"Chelsea asked if he could come in and our kit lady took him in and they shook hands, he is fine.
"As far as we are concerned the matter is closed. He has been a ballboy here for six years with no incidents here at the stadium."
what do you think?
Ciaran Mulholland
Very interested to see what punishment is handed out here. The FA tend to be lenient on London clubs (Espically Chelsea) and will probably do nothing. Cantona got 8 Months. I know its not like for like but using Cantona as the template Hazzard should at least be suspended for one - two months. If Luis Suarez had have done that last night there would be calls for a lifetime ban.
maj.ali1
Isin't cantona french though. Might have been a decent player but he is a bit weird.
shirley sutton
according to other news reports, boy is related to a swansea director and he had tweeted before the match that he was going to waste time!!!!!
Steve Marshall
So what if he tweeted "he's gonna waste time", every team wastes time when there winning, do you really think goalkeepers slow down cos their tired or players fake injury or taking the ball to the corner flag, get real will you, whether you like it or not time wasting is a part of the modern game.
Paul Gilbert
Looking forward to all the comments, if was a United player there would be already at least a hundred, so far 3 and two against the ball boy - lol
Martin Massey
I thought SAF had the f a in his hands now it's london teams esp chelsea everyone except liverpool get real.
Ciaran Mulholland
@ Martin Massey Suarez gets 8 game ban for Racist Comments. Terry gets 4 game ban for Racist comments. Explain that one to me. If that's not Leniency towards Chelsea i dont know what is. Then there's the whole Obi Mikel falsely acusing the Ref Fiasco and getting a measley one game ban. Hazzard will get a one game ban becuase he plays for Chelski. If it was a Manchester Utd, Liverpool or Newcastle player it would be a one Month ban.
richard
Is it me or is it the world of football that has gone mad! What on earth is a 17 year old doing as a ball-boy except that his Swansea Director father has made this possible. In a world where 'diving' is the most popular pastime - this boy needs a good telling-off. He is just a cheat - proud to delay returning the ball on a timely basis. If you watch the replay - Hazard was using his foot to try & free the ball - but he should not have done so. If it were me - I would have dragged the boy off the ball - by his hair if necessary & to teach him a lesson. As usual the media circus make far too much of this incident. I hope that the ball-boy is banned from the Liberty Stadium for three games - just like Hazard - he then might think twice about behaving in such a loutish & cheating manner. Shame on him but well done the Swans. Should walk the final against league 2 opposition!
Steve Heath
Regardless of what the ballboy did, Hazard had no right to do what he did, the blame lies squarely on his shoulders. Hazard is the pro and he should act accordingly. I expected him to turn to the officials or get one of the many match balls available. All players, and managers resort to time wasting, it's not right, but it's a part of the game. None of them get kicked, and neither should this ballboy.
Steve Marshall
Your 100% correct, hazard is the pro and should have known better.
Paul Gilbert
Exactly, Steve Heath, and even if the boy held on to the ball for half an hour the referee should add the time lost on so there should be no time wasted. Everyone focussing on what the ballboy did and not the professional footballer.
Craig Tilley
I have to say, even as a Chelsea fan, that Hazard was bang out of order for what he did. But was it really that bad? Yes Hazard deserved the red card, but maybe the ball boy should have had a yellow for time wasting. Everybody does stupid things when frustrated, Hazard clearly isn't a bad bloke, we've all seen a lot worse, if the ball boy had got straight up and not clutched his ribs as if he was suffering from a ruptured spleen it would have been a red card and not much more would have been said. Judging by what I have heard he said on twitter, it was his intention to disrupt the game at some point anyway, and he may well have a reputation for this sort of thing. Well done to Lampard and Terry for helping sort the situation. Lampard will be greatly missed as a player and ambassador.
Sandra Bryans
2 much bein made of the whole thing the player shudnt have dun wat he did but frm most reports he didnt actualy connect wit the ballboy the boy on the other hand shud b hangin his head and keepin a low profile x
Martin Massey
What if the home fans had come over the barrier to hazzard there could have been a riot.
Steve Heath
I'm not a Chelsea fan, but Hazard doesn't seem bad. A clean player and no reputation for diving. I'm also confident that he had no malice when he kicked at the ball, but merely wanted to get back to the game. But with a full stadium, and live tv, you just don't do that. Ballboys are instructed to delay play, as do the whole team when it is in their best interests. But a kick like that will have consequences. The ref has no option but to show the red. Not sure if the FA will accept it as a 'normal' red, or if there will be a greater punishment.
robert
I am not a footy fan,never have been,never will be,but i have just seen it on I.T.V.news and it looked to me as though the footballer was simply trying to release the ball and NOT delibaretly KICKING the ball boy.Should NOT have been given RED CARD.
Matt Scattergood
I'm not a Chelsea fan far from it, but that ball boy got all he deserved! Why lie on the ball? The idea of a ball boy is to hand the ball back!! He ought to count himself lucky he didn't get a proper kicking!!! Muppet! He ought to tweet I'm a numpty!!
johnnydee23
Well said matt glad to see I'm not alone in thinking he brought it on himself
johnnydee23
I'm a Manu fan in case anyone thinks I'm a blue
Paul Gilbert
Still all about the ball boy - according to some he should be " given a proper kicking" and "dragged off by his hair" - almost nothing about Hazard's behaviour supposed to be setting an example - almost surreal response, what a society
johnnydee23
Get real Paul grow up just like the idiot ballboy should
lucy3638
Everyone focussing on what the ball boy did and not the professional footballer. It would seem to me the police turn a blind eye to what footballers do. What I can see the player pushed the lad over and he fell on the ball then kicked him, surly that is causing grieves body harm. It could have caused a riot and some spectators could have been injured. It should be nothing less than a five match bad to deter future aggression of footballers.
johnnydee23
Need to have another look at it lucy
Paul Gilbert
Lucy, they're all either Chelsea fans looking for an excuse why they didn't win and if they're not and they condone what the player did then we really have problems
johnnydee23
I'm a Manu fan but its the ballboy who should be charged this is so ridiculous.
Paul Gilbert
So the ballboy was wrong but did not affect the result, he will be reprimanded and that's it. Hazard is a professional footballer and should conduct himself accordingly. Even if he did not actually kick the boy kicking a football at close range could hurt the boy or wind him but that is . What is wrong with you lot. Hazard should not have done what he did and should get an extended ban. Everyone wants to lynch the ballboy, unbelievable.
notsure11
10:10am on 24/1/2013
The ball boy is a idiot. He knew what he was doing. He should not interfere with play.
Steve Heath
6:17pm on 24/1/2013
If that was your son lying on top of the ball and an overpaid professional player with boots kicked the ball you would have a very different opinion.
maj.ali1
9:28pm on 24/1/2013
Ref should have shown the kid a red card for his actions. No need.