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Swansea ball boy: Eden Hazard to avoid police action | Swansea ball boy: Eden Hazard to avoid police action |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard will not face police action after a ball boy was kicked during the Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea City. | Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard will not face police action after a ball boy was kicked during the Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea City. |
Officers spoke to Charlie Morgan, the 17-year-old son of club director Martin Morgan, after the game but no complaint was made and he was not injured. | |
Hazard was sent off for the incident at the Liberty Stadium but did >apologise. | |
Swansea beat Chelsea 2-0 on aggregate and will face Bradford City in the final at Wembley on 24 February. | Swansea beat Chelsea 2-0 on aggregate and will face Bradford City in the final at Wembley on 24 February. |
The incident, which happened in the last 10 minutes of the match, has prompted debate among football fans, players and pundits. | The incident, which happened in the last 10 minutes of the match, has prompted debate among football fans, players and pundits. |
Chelsea needed to score twice to take the game into extra time and it appeared Hazard lost his patience with Mr Morgan after the ball had gone out of play for a goal-kick. | Chelsea needed to score twice to take the game into extra time and it appeared Hazard lost his patience with Mr Morgan after the ball had gone out of play for a goal-kick. |
'They both talked' | 'They both talked' |
The teenager fell to the ground as Hazard attempted to get the ball from him with the Blues midfielder then trying to kick it from under him but instead he appeared to make contact with the youngster. | The teenager fell to the ground as Hazard attempted to get the ball from him with the Blues midfielder then trying to kick it from under him but instead he appeared to make contact with the youngster. |
Immediately after the incident Chelsea and Swansea players went to tend to Mr Morgan, who was left holding his ribs, before referee Chris Foy produced a red card. | Immediately after the incident Chelsea and Swansea players went to tend to Mr Morgan, who was left holding his ribs, before referee Chris Foy produced a red card. |
A South Wales Police spokesperson said: "South Wales Police can confirm that the Swansea City ball boy has been interviewed in the presence of his father and no complaint has been made. | A South Wales Police spokesperson said: "South Wales Police can confirm that the Swansea City ball boy has been interviewed in the presence of his father and no complaint has been made. |
"The ball boy did not sustain any injuries." | "The ball boy did not sustain any injuries." |
The saga has sparked widespread debate and Mr Morgan's Twitter account attracted thousands of new followers. | The saga has sparked widespread debate and Mr Morgan's Twitter account attracted thousands of new followers. |
One pre-match tweet on his account reads: "The king of all ball boys is back making his final appearance #needed #for #timewasting.". | One pre-match tweet on his account reads: "The king of all ball boys is back making his final appearance #needed #for #timewasting.". |
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has claimed he would have done the same as Hazard telling BBC Radio 5: "I was very, very disappointed by the way the ball boy acted, and I say 'acted'." | Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has claimed he would have done the same as Hazard telling BBC Radio 5: "I was very, very disappointed by the way the ball boy acted, and I say 'acted'." |
But commentator and former player Garth Crooks told BBC Radio Wales that "what Hazard did was very wrong, he clearly lost it". | But commentator and former player Garth Crooks told BBC Radio Wales that "what Hazard did was very wrong, he clearly lost it". |
After the game Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said that Hazard and the ball boy had exchanged apologies in the dressing room after the match. | After the game Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said that Hazard and the ball boy had exchanged apologies in the dressing room after the match. |
"They apologised to each other," he said. "They both talked. The boy knows he was wasting time. Hazard was frustrated and trying to get the ball back. | "They apologised to each other," he said. "They both talked. The boy knows he was wasting time. Hazard was frustrated and trying to get the ball back. |
"We can not change the situation. We are disappointed because we lost a player. The best thing for us is to move forward." | "We can not change the situation. We are disappointed because we lost a player. The best thing for us is to move forward." |
Hazard later told Chelsea TV: "The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball. | Hazard later told Chelsea TV: "The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball. |
"I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise." | "I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise." |
'Frustrations' | 'Frustrations' |
Swansea said Mr Morgan has worked at the Liberty Stadium for six years and was invited into the Chelsea dressing room after the match. | Swansea said Mr Morgan has worked at the Liberty Stadium for six years and was invited into the Chelsea dressing room after the match. |
A spokesman said: "Chelsea asked if he could come in and our kit lady took him in and they shook hands, he is fine. | A spokesman said: "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." | "As far as we are concerned the matter is closed." |
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said he expected Hazard would regret the incident when he views it on television. | Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said he expected Hazard would regret the incident when he views it on television. |
Laudrup denied the club had given the ball boys instructions to hold onto the ball when it went out of play. | Laudrup denied the club had given the ball boys instructions to hold onto the ball when it went out of play. |
"I completely understand the player was frustrated because his team is behind and the ball boy should have given away the ball. | "I completely understand the player was frustrated because his team is behind and the ball boy should have given away the ball. |
"But again there are things you can never do, you can't kick another person or a boy like that." | "But again there are things you can never do, you can't kick another person or a boy like that." |
Next month's final will be Swansea's first major cup final in their 100-year history. | Next month's final will be Swansea's first major cup final in their 100-year history. |
Meanwhile, three Chelsea supporters were arrested before last night's match for possessing flares following a joint operation between South Wales Police and Swansea City. | Meanwhile, three Chelsea supporters were arrested before last night's match for possessing flares following a joint operation between South Wales Police and Swansea City. |