PARIS (AP) – Chelsea’s Pedro Neto has apologized for shoving a ball boy in the final minute of his team’s 5-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
In stoppage time, the ball drifted down the right flank and the Portuguese winger quickly tried to pick it up, hitting the ball boy in the chest as he tried to hold onto the ball.
The ball boy rolled backwards and crashed into an advertising board.
“I want to come out and apologize for what happened on the pitch,” Neto told TNT Sports after the match. “I talked to the ball boy. Given the emotion of the game, we were losing and I wanted to pick up the ball. I gave him a little push. I saw that I hurt him and I’m sorry. I’m not like this.”
The boy stood up and appeared unharmed. While other PSG players indulged in pushing and shoving, Neto was consoled by some PSG players, while others reprimanded him.
Neto said he gave the boy a jersey with the number 7 on his back.
“I also gave him my shirt,” Neto said. “He was happy that I gave him the shirt and he said he was sorry 35 times.”
Neto was not punished by the referee for this incident.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior said: “I saw there was an altercation.” “I did not see (the incident). If there was any wrongdoing on our part, I apologize on behalf of the club (and) Pedro apologized in an interview.”
Rossenyol said his players should have been more focused after the incident, but PSG’s fifth goal came soon after.
“That’s my responsibility,” he said. “We have to manage the moment better.”
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