The world of football was reeling again tonight after yet another on-pitch scandal broke as Chelsea were unceremoniously dumped out of the League Cup by Welsh wizards Swansea, to set up an unlikely final date with Bradford City. The result was almost completely over-shadowed when Chelsea’s Belgian star Eden Hazard was sent off tonight for kicking a ball boy who lay on top of the ball in a crude attempt to waste time for his side.
At the time, Chelsea were losing, and the ball boy took it upon himself to smother the ball to eat up precious seconds with ten minutes left of the semi-final second leg.
Chelsea’s official Twitter account responded to the moment in incredulous fashion:
“Has football gone mad? Hazard is sent off for kicking the ball under a ball boy attempting to smother the ball rather than return it. #CFC”
The ball boy himself has come in for criticism, given his obvious time-wasting tactics, but the simple fact is that Hazard should have simply kept his head. But as with Eric Cantona’s infamous crowd-kicking escapades back in the 90s, the occasion can get the better of even the most talented of footballers, and tonight’s ugly scenes were the unfortunate result.
In the wake of the red card, it came to light on Twitter that an account belonging to one Charlie Morgan - the name of the ball boy in question – had bragged about planned disruptive behaviour at the game, proclaiming himself to be the king of the ball boys, and that he was needed for time-wasting in the big game.
It’s another ridiculous event in the soap opera that is top flight English football. And the sad fact is that Swansea’s achievement will no be over-shadowed by the ridiculous behaviour of an idiotic child, and the actions of the professional footballer who chose to kick him.
Do you think Hazard should be punished? Share your thoughts below.
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5 Comments
The lad wouldn’t have been lying on the ground if Hazard hadn’t pushed him over. There is no excuse for kicking a ball boy, despite what star-struck apologists like the author of this piece may say. The Billie big-bullocks team whose stars do what they want, got their just deserts. We are going to Wembley, the losers are reduced to whinging.
The ball boy is absolutely to blame in all this, but Hazard shouldn’t have kicked him. Very sorry scenes on both accounts.
I will admit I didn’t see the game live, but from the video of the incident it does not look great for either party. It is a simple as the ball boy shouldn’t have done that and Eden should not of kicked him. However, this is hardly the worst thing I’ve seen in football, and people saying this is worse than Cantona’s (not this article) are mistaken. I can see why the ref gave him a red, but I think that has to be the maximum punishment given out for this.
so why hasn’t he been charged for disrupting the game? or do they only do that with oiks and toff sports?
if hazard hadnt have knocked him over then he wouldnt be on the floor.
assaulting a minor is never the answer, but i expect nothing less from a club with such a pitiful record of behaviour