Tensions escalated during stoppage time when the eager Neto tried to retrieve the ball after it went out. Neto was in no mood to waste time when the ball boy avoided offering the ball to the Portugal international.
Instead, he pushed the ball boy to the ground and the situation escalated as players rushed to the scene. PSG’s stars tried to block Reece James and Neto, while the likes of Marquinhos and Enzo Fernandes jostled them.
Neto eventually apologized after victims of his actions were cautioned by medical personnel. Referee Alejandro Hernandez eventually diffused the situation and made the next steps clear to the team captain.
Neto avoided caution in the interaction. VAR reviewed the incident but did not wave a red card.
After the match, Neto said: “I would like to apologize to the ball boy. I have already spoken to him.
“Given the emotion of the game, we were losing, so I wanted to pick up the ball. He had the ball, so I pushed him a little bit.
“I saw that I had hurt him so much that I went to apologize and gave him my shirt as well.
“That can’t happen and I’m really, really sorry. I want to say again to him that I’m really sorry.”
Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle defended Neto’s physical confrontation. He said on TNT Sports, “Yeah, he pushed him, but the ball boy wouldn’t give him the ball and went to throw the ball away, so he pushed him.”
“It’s the last moment of the game to protect the player. He wants to continue playing, but the players are trying to keep the ball away from him. He just nudges him.”
Hvitya Kvaratsheria soon unleashed an attack that dealt even more damage. The Georgian, who had already scored a stunning goal, produced a calmer finish after a tense few seconds.
In another quick counter-attack, Achraf Hakimi held off a pass and forced the former Napoli forward to cut the ball back. Kvaratschelia’s first shot put the ball past Filip Jorgensen and the final crucial touch of the match ensured a 5-2 victory.
Neto won the ball back on the halfway line and made a powerful run to set Enzo Fernandes on goal, scoring just as Chelsea equalized for the second time. In the end, this proved not to be enough, with doubles from Vicinha and Kvaratschelia giving PSG an overwhelming advantage.
