On This Day In 2013: Eden Hazard Sent Off For Kicking Ball Boy
By Max Wise
Chelsea forward Eden Hazard received his only red card in English football in a League Cup game on this day in 2013 after he appeared to kick time-wasting Swansea City ball boy Charlie Morgan in the ribs.
Chelsea had lost the first leg of the semi-final game at home 2-0 to the Swans, and with time ticking away in the second leg that eventually ended goalless, a fruitless Chelsea attack ended in a Swansea City goal kick.
A ball-boy, Charlie Morgan, retrieved the ball but refused to give it back, deciding rather to lay on top of it to waste time, prompting Hazard to kick the ball from underneath the former's body.
The 17-year-old ball-boy visibly appeared to be in some discomfort and referee Chris Foy had no option but to send Hazard off.
Hazard apologised after the game but insisted he kicked the ball rather than the boy.
"The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy," said Hazard.
"I apologise. The ball-boy came in the changing room and we had a quick chat and I apologised and the boy apologised as well, and it is over. Sorry."
