Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has issued a public apology after pushing a ball boy during the club’s 5-2 defeat against Paris St‑Germain in the Champions League.
The 26-year-old pushed the ball boy in stoppage time of the last-16 first-leg match at Parc des Princes, causing the youngster to fall onto a chair. The incident sparked a brief altercation between both teams.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Neto said:
“I want to apologise to the ball boy. I have already spoken to him. We were losing, and in the heat of the game, I pushed him slightly. I’m not like this. I feel really sorry.”
He added that he gave the ball boy his shirt and repeatedly apologised, with teammate Vitinha helping to explain the situation due to Neto’s limited French.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior also addressed the incident, saying:
“If there was anything wrong from our side, I apologise on behalf of the club. Pedro has apologised in interviews, which is important.”
The match saw further Chelsea frustrations as goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen initially wanted to leave the pitch after a mistake allowed PSG to regain the lead. Teammate Robert Sanchez convinced him to acknowledge the travelling fans.
Chelsea’s collapse continued with late goals from substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, exposing concentration and discipline issues. Rosenior reflected on the team’s performance:
“The last 15, 20 minutes were chaotic. Setbacks happen, but staying calm is essential. This is my responsibility to fix.”
Chelsea will face PSG again at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in the second leg of the tie, after hosting Newcastle in the Premier League.
