Chelsea star Pedro Neto facing possible Champions League ban after ball boy push | OneFootball

Blues winger subject to UEFA disciplinary proceedings over altercation late on in 5-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain

Pedro Neto could face a potential Champions League suspension after UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Chelsea winger.

Neto pushed a ball boy as he looked to retrieve possession quickly during stoppage time of Wednesday night’s 5-2 defeat by holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at the Parc des Princes.

The Portuguese international quickly apologised for his actions after the game, telling TNT Sports: “I want to apologise to the ball boy. I have already spoken to him.

“We were losing and in the emotion of the game I wanted to get the ball fast and I gave him a little push.

“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.

“My French is not very good, and [Portugal team-mate] Vitinha came over and said to him I was not like this.

“At the end he [the ball boy] laughed and I gave him my shirt and said sorry about 35 times. He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation.”

However, UEFA have now opened disciplinary proceedings against Neto for “unsporting behaviour”, with a one-match Champions League ban in the range of potential punishments.

Neto could also face a warning or a possible fine. UEFA said they would make a decision “in due course”, with Chelsea hosting PSG in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night with a mountain to climb to reach the quarter-finals.

“Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against... Pedro Lomba Neto for unsporting behaviour in accordance with Article 15(1)(a)(v) of UEFA Disciplinary Regulations,” read a UEFA statement on Thursday.

“UEFA’s disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course.”

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said after the match that he had not seen the incident but offered an apology on behalf of the club.

“I saw there was an altercation with the ball boy,” Rosenior said.

“But if there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologise on behalf of the club. But I think Pedro has done in interviews. I genuinely haven't seen it back.”

The episode evoked memories of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard’s clash with a ball boy during a League Cup semi-final match against Swansea in 2013.

On that occasion, Hazard tried to kick the ball out from underneath the ball boy, who had fallen on top of it, but instead made contact with him.

Hazard was sent off and apologised, with his standard three-match ban for violent conduct not increased.

Last April, Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanisic pushed a ball boy off his stool after the latter had tossed the ball away during stoppage time of a tense Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

He apologised and was not sanctioned by UEFA.