Sky reporting no criminal charges, so he got off light, not sure the FA will be as lenient, they are experts at kicking people.
Had to laugh, at both of them. The kid got what was coming to him, hardly a kick which could do any damage was it? He'll think twice before doing that again. However, really stupid by Hazard. Deserved the red card and whatever else he gets as well. Only had to alert the referee and let him sort it out. More controversy around Chelsea... As for Shaw, he's a Chelsea fan isn't he.
Just seen the incident. Hazard could be in real bother with the FA. He clearly made contact with the ball boy. He made the most of it admittedly, but Hazard was out of order.
Hazard went for the ball and got the ball. Some of you are acting like he tried to hurt the boy. He didn't at all he just tried to get the ball off him. He actually just kicked the ball as well, he didn't hurt the boy. I've seen it from enough angles to be sure of that, the kid is rolling around just to make a scene. Get a grip. Swansea City media manager Jonathan Wilshere said: "The police have interviewed the boy, whose name we cannot give because he is under 18 and a vulnerable person. "He and his father spoke to police and they are not pressing charges. "He's been into the Chelsea dressing room and shook hands with Hazard. John Terry and Frank Lampard were exemplary in welcoming him into the Chelsea dressing room." Blues boss Rafael Benitez said both player and ball boy apologised to each other after the match at Liberty Stadium. He added: "They both recognise there was a mistake. "The boy was apologising for time wasting. Hazard was frustrated and tried to get the ball. He was kicking the ball and getting the ball. "We can analyse if for half an hour but we know that both are wrong. "We will deal with it internally, that's all I can say."
Rickie Rickie, no-one can tell from all the angles shown if he got the ball or the lad. You have "chosen" to see that he got the ball. I've seen it from all those angles too and with no axe to grind either way, it is impossible to see. As for the "get a grip" remark, surely that is equally deserving for both of them. For crying out loud, what makes a professional footballer think it is sensible to react like that? Both he and the ball boy have behaved wrongly.
It's been blown out of proportion as far as I'm concerend. This isn't a child either. The ball boy is actually 17 years old. Hazard got the ball clean IMO and it was a toe poke rather than a kick. His intentions were clearly to get the ball and not hurt him, it's very harsh to criminalise Hazard for this. I bet at the time it didn't even cross Hazard's mind he would get sent off since his intention was just to toe poke the ball loose, which he did. Yes it's very naive and foolish, he should have thought of the consequence first, but he didn't mean any harm.
Maybe not Rickie but it's a definite red card even so. You just can't touch the ball boys! It was brain-meltingly stupid.
Yeah I agree it's probably a red for being reckless. I'm just saying he did no harm and didn't mean any either.
Correct that Hazard got a red card and he may still be in trouble with the FA, but pleased that both parties were sensible.
Just seen the incident. I know Hazard deserved his punishment, but in those tense circumstances I can't pretend I wouldn't have kicked the little **** too. In fact I'd probably have kicked him harder. I can't actually watch the clip without wanting to run in there and give him a boot.
Hazard was really just trying to get at the ball, and not an injury-inducing way. He could have just kicked the kid in the face and gotten the ball right quick. It was the equivalent of swatting at the ball or grabbing for it and trying to wrest it away, only footballers do everything with their feet. Still a red card, yes. But I don't think Hazard is some kind of thug or anything. Also the ballboy was not only 17, but the son of one of the Directors and had bragged about how he planned to timewaste earlier Twitter.
The ball popped right out so it was a rather impressive tackle. Best bit of all of it is that everyone on the news and the web thinks he is 12 when really he is 17. Live that one down!
Red card was entirely justified no so much for the violent conduct (there wasn't an intention to injure) but for plain stupidity. The ball boy should never be allowed to help at another match, however well connected his father is.
It could have been a bloke being the ball retriever, not a lad; it was still wrong action from Hazard. The age of that person is 100% irrelevant. I disagree about calling it a toe poke rather than a kick, that is semantics. He pulled his leg back at quite an angle and moved it forward very sharply. I disagree that it's been blown out of proportion, as it is about the reaction of a footballer. He simply can't do anything like that. Whetehr there was intention to hurt or not, is also irrelevant. The action was foolish and the fact that it was live on television added to the need for an example to be set in punishing Hazard. What is the betting that one of my 11 year old boys, in the team I coach try to push someone over when retrieving the ball this weekend. They are always copying what they see on the pitch. The ball "boy" was a prat of course, but anyone here ever brought up being taught "two wrongs don't make a right?"
Ha ha, i felt a bit like this too Joe. Hazard should be given a job by the council patroling our parks and sorting out some of our little ****s, who's parents couldnt be bothered with them. I hasten to add that i am only refering to a minority of youths here, as most are really decent kids.
