Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has apologised after pushing a ball boy during his side’s 5–2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred during stoppage time at the Parc des Princes as Chelsea chased the game late on. Neto attempted to retrieve the ball quickly following PSG’s fourth goal, but in the process pushed the ball boy, sending him into a nearby chair and prompting a brief confrontation involving players from both sides.
Speaking after the match, Neto acknowledged the incident and issued a public apology.
“I want to apologise to the ball boy,” Neto told TNT Sports. “I’ve already spoken to him. We were losing and, in the emotion of the moment, I wanted to get the ball quickly and gave him a little push.
“That’s not how I am. It happened in the heat of the game and I felt it was important to apologise. I gave him my shirt and explained the situation. He understood what happened and accepted the apology.”
The altercation came during a chaotic closing phase of the match as Chelsea’s challenge in the first leg of the last-16 tie collapsed late on.
PSG, managed by Luis Enrique, had twice taken the lead through goals from Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.
Chelsea responded on both occasions, with Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez bringing the visitors level.
However, the match shifted decisively in the closing stages. Midfielder Vitinha restored PSG’s advantage before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck twice late on to secure a commanding result for the French champions.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior also addressed the incident after the match, offering an apology if any actions from his team were considered inappropriate.
“If there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologise on behalf of the club,” Rosenior said.
The frustration among Chelsea players was evident after the final whistle. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen initially attempted to leave the pitch directly for the tunnel before being urged back by teammate Robert Sanchez to acknowledge the travelling supporters.
Chelsea will now shift their focus back to domestic competition, with a Premier League fixture against Newcastle United scheduled for Saturday.
Attention will then return to Europe when Chelsea host PSG next week in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, where they face a significant challenge to overturn the three-goal deficit.
