Chelsea’s Pedro Neto is in line to be punished by Uefa for pushing a ballboy during his team’s 5-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after European football’s governing body announced it had opened disciplinary proceedings.
“Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against … Pedro Neto for unsporting behaviour,” a Uefa statement said. “Uefa’s disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course.”
Neto knocked over the ballboy as he ran over to grab the ball late in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg, with Chelsea trailing 4-2. The incident led to a mass altercation involving players from both teams, and Neto later apologised and gave the ballboy his shirt.
“We were losing and in the emotion of the game I wanted to get the ball fast and I gave him a little push,” Neto told TNT Sports. “I’m not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologise. I gave him my shirt. I’m really sorry about it – I feel I have to apologise to him.”
Chelsea’s head coach Liam Rosenior said: “If there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologise on behalf of the club.”
Neto, who has scored 10 goals in 42 games for Chelsea this season, could face a suspension for Tuesday’s second leg.
