Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has been warned about his conduct by UEFA but escaped a sanction after pushing a ball boy during the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
The European governing body said last week it had instigated disciplinary proceedings against Neto “for unsporting behaviour in accordance with Article 15(1)(a)(v) of UEFA Disciplinary Regulations”.
The incident occurred during second-half stoppage time when Chelsea were chasing the game, with the score 4-2 to PSG.
Neto, 26, pushed the ball boy near the advertising hoardings while attempting to retrieve a ball to take a throw-in. Chelsea went on top lose the last-16 first leg 5-2, with the decider in London on Tuesday.
Neto said immediately after the first leg match that he had apologised to the ball boy, telling TNT Sports that “with the emotions of the game” he “wanted to pick up the ball” and that the ball boy was “keeping the ball with him”.
“I gave him a little push. I saw that I hurt him a little bit,” Neto said. “I am not like this. In the heat of the moment, I went there to apologise. I gave him my shirt as well because that can not happen. I am really, really sorry about that and I just want to say one more time that I am really sorry to him.”
After the incident, players from both sides streamed over to the sideline before eventually clearing the area. Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez spoke to Neto, as well as Chelsea captain Reece James and PSG skipper Marquinhos, before play resumed. Neto was not booked.
Head coach Liam Rosenior also apologised in the immediate aftermath despite having said he did not see the incident.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia furthered PSG’s lead four minutes into stoppage-time to give his side a three-goal advantage for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Last week, Portugal international Neto was hit with an additional one-match ban and fined £70,000 by the English Football Association for “acting in an improper manner” towards referee Darren England after his red card against Arsenal on March 1. Neto admitted guilt after being charged by the FA.
The Neto situation against PSG was reminiscent of the incident involving former Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, who was sent off for kicking at a ball boy at Swansea City in 2013.