Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has issued a formal apology after a physical encounter with a ball boy marred the closing stages of the club’s 5–2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The incident, which took place during injury time at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, saw the Portuguese international shove a young staff member while attempting to expedite a restart. The confrontation briefly escalated as players from both sides converged, with the youngster being knocked into a pitchside chair.
Reflecting on the lapse in judgment on Thursday, the 26-year-old attributed the outburst to the high-pressure environment of a knockout European tie. Neto emphasized that the act was a result of his desperation to overturn Chelsea’s three-goal deficit rather than a reflection of his true character.
“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.”
Following the match, Neto sought out the ball boy to offer a personal reconciliation, a gesture facilitated by his international teammate Vitinha, who acted as an interpreter for the exchange. The winger revealed that the tension was resolved amicably, culminating in the gift of his match-worn jersey as a sign of goodwill.
“My French is not very good, and Vitinha came over and explained that I’m not like this. In the end, he laughed, and I gave him my shirt and said sorry many times. He understood what had happened and was happy with the situation.”
The administrative fallout was also addressed by Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, who expressed the club’s regret over the touchline drama. While Rosenior admitted he had not yet scrutinized the video evidence, he was quick to extend a collective apology for any conduct deemed unprofessional during the frustrating evening in France.
“I saw there was an altercation with the ball boy. If there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologise on behalf of the club,” Rosenior said.
While the personal apology appears to have smoothed over the immediate tension, the incident remains under the shadow of potential UEFA review. As Chelsea pivots toward a critical Premier League meeting with Newcastle United, the focus within the camp is on maintaining discipline as they look ahead to a monumental task in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
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