Chelsea’s Neto avoids ban for pushing PSG ball boy

2026-03-16 - 23:34

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto (right) and PSG’s Marquinhos battle for possession during the Champions League clash in Paris. (EPA Images pic) LAUSANNE: Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is free to play in this week’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain after being given a retrospective yellow card for pushing a ball boy last week, Uefa said Monday. The Portuguese forward apologised for the incident which happened in PSG’s 5-2 first-leg win at the Parc des Princes. A Uefa investigation found Neto was guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct and added a booking to his disciplinary record. He will be available for Tuesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge. “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 broadcaster TNT Sports after the game “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.”