Chelsea’s Pedro Neto apologized for pushing a ball boy late in his team’s 5-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.
The ball had just gone out of play down the right in stoppage time when Portugal’s winger quickly tried to grab it and pushed the ball boy in the chest as he appeared to be holding the ball.
The ball boy tumbled backwards into a billboard.
“I want to come out and apologize for what happened on the pitch,” Neto told broadcasters after the match. «I talked to the ball boy. Because of the emotions of the game we were losing, I wanted to pick up the ball. I gave him a push. I saw that I hurt him and I’m sorry because I’m not like that.»
The boy got back up and appeared unharmed. He was consoled by some PSG players while others indulged in some pushing and shoving, with other PSG players abusing Neto.
Neto said he gave the boy his No. 7 jersey.
“I also gave him my shirt,” Neto said. “He was happy that I gave him the shirt and said sorry 35 times.”
Neto was not punished by the referee for the incident y3ha.
READ ALSO: UCL 2025-26: Kvaratskhelia scores late brace for PSG in first round of 16
«I saw there was an altercation,» Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said. «I did not see the incident. If there is any misconduct on our part, I apologize on behalf of the club (and) Pedro has said this in interviews.»
Rosenior said he should have helped his players concentrate better after the incident, which was followed moments later by PSG’s fifth goal.
«It’s up to me,» he said. “We have to manage the moments better.”
Published on March 12, 2026
