In January last year, Eden Hazard was embroiled in a scandal that would later become known as 'ballboy gate' following Chelsea's 2-0 aggregate defeat to Swansea in the League Cup semi-finals. With the clock ticking down on his side's hopes of reaching the Wembley final and going into the last 10 minutes of the game, Hazard ran to collect a stray ball after referee Chris Foy had given a goal kick in a bid to quickly get the game back underway. Swansea ballboy Charlie Morgan had other ideas and casually trotted over to the ball to return it to the goalkeeper himself. Morgan fell on top of the ball and the red mist came down as Hazard lashed out, complaining that the youngster was time wasting and kicking him in the ribs. Foy handed Hazard a straight red card for his blatant assault and the midfielder served a three match ban, while South Wales police opened an investigation into the incident, though Morgan refused to press charges. Now, whenever Chelsea face Swansea, Hazard is always booed and jeered by the Welsh club's fans.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
