Capital One Cup 2012/13

Why kick a kid, what is he, fucking retarded? Why not just bitch to the ref about the ballboy's antics, that's all Hazard does in terms of the off-the-ball work rate anyway.

Why kick a kid, what is he, fucking retarded? Why not just bitch to the ref about the ballboy's antics, that's all Hazard does in terms of the off-the-ball work rate anyway.

He's 17 years old, isn't he legally seen as an adult at that age by the law in the UK?

This.

If the ball boy doesn't do what he did then Hazard doesn't kick him.

He's 17 years old, isn't he legally seen as an adult at that age by the law in the UK?

If women don't dress the way they do, then men wouldn't rape them.

Same logical thinking as you...

If women don't dress the way they do, then men wouldn't rape them.

Same logical thinking as you...

"Excellent performance by the ball boy. As soon as he felt the initial contact he’s entitled to go to ground there. Then expertly shielded the ball and intelligently drew the foul from Hazard. Left the ref with no other option.

I’ve seen enough of the ball boy to think he could do it in Europe. Just hope Swansea can hold onto him."

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard will not face criminal action after he lashed out at a ball boy during last night's Capital One Cup semi-final defeat to Swanssea.

Police officers spoke to the 17-year-old following the match and no complaint was made.

"South Wales Police can confirm that the Swansea City ball boy has been interviewed in the presence of his father and no complaint has been made," a spokesperson for South Wales Police said.

"The ball boy did not sustain any injuries."

QPR midfielder Joey Barton, on loan at Marseille, has typically waded into the debate by taking to Twitter this morning to suggest Hazard should have gone further.

He tweeted: "Hazard only crime is he hasn't kicked him hard enough..."

Barton later updated his Twitter feed to clarify his comments, insisting he was no advocating the kicking of ball boys.

"Just re-read that last tweet and it sounds like i'm advocating kicking ballboys! Haha I was mearly trying to point out Hazard, may as well.. ..of kicked him properly for the way he is going to be punished for this. Public perception is he's volleyed him. In reality he's tried.. ..all be it in an aggressive manner to dislodge the ball from beneath him. I am strictly against the kicking of balls people. #kickitout"

He added "Hope that clears that statement up... #twistedsentiments"

The incident occurred in the final minutes of the match at the Liberty Stadium in Wales in which Swansea advanced to next month's cup final with a 2-0 aggregate win.

When the ball went out of play the ball boy, named locally as Charlie Morgan, proceeded to lay on the ball in an attempt to waste time.

With Chelsea needing two goals to have any chance of winning the two-legged tie, Hazard attempted to retrieve the ball back by kicking at the ball, and in doing so hit Morgan.

Hazard was immediately sent off for the incident by referee Chris Foy and after the match the Belgian international made a public apology. Morgan was also invited into the Chelsea dressing room after the game where it's understood the pair apologised to each other.

Hazard told Chelsea TV: “The boy put his whole body onto the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise. The ballboy 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.”

A spokesman for Swansea, who will play Bradford City in the final on 24 February, later confirmed that South Wales police had spoken to Morgan and his father and it had been agreed that no charges would be pressed. He said that Frank Lampard and John Terry in particular had made Morgan feel welcome when he was invited into the dressing room, accompanied by a member of the Swansea staff.

I definitely think Hazard should get a lengthy ban.

A 3 match ban isn't enough.

Then again JT got fuck all for racial abuse so I doubt Hazard will get much.

I definitely think Hazard should get a lengthy ban.

A 3 match ban isn't enough.

Then again JT got fuck all for racial abuse so I doubt Hazard will get much.

I'm sorry but it's not retarded logic.

If the ball boy doesn't lay on top of the fucking ball then there isn't an issue, Hazard doesn't need to get the ball back from him, simple as that, you can't argue with that at all, it's pretty black and white.

Also if you're 17 you know better and if you don't then you shouldn't be allowed out of the house. I mean it's actually ridiculous that a ball boy would do that in a League Cup semi final. Well ball boys and stewards are most of the time left alone by players aren't they? Seems this incident happened because of the ball boy doing something he wasn't suppose to do, he didn't fall over, he deliberately lay on top of the ball.

Have you seen what the "poor boy" apparently posted on his twitter before the game?

He's also the son of a Swansea director, he should know better, it's his own fault.

You're missing my point. Whatever the ball boy did, however old he is, whatever he said before the game - you can't kick a ball boy. I'm not defending him, but you telling me all this stuff about who he was/ what he did is completely irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make. Hazard kicked him (or the ball, but whatever) - you can't do that, regardless of what a little shit the ball boy is. Saying that because the ball boy was lying on the ball first somehow justifies Hazard's actions is bullshit when it comes to the rules. You can't do what he did.

If he wants to flop around like a little bitch and influence the game, then he should be ready to receive a swift kick to the bollocks.

If he wants to flop around like a little bitch and influence the game, then he should be ready to receive a swift kick to the bollocks.

You're missing my point. Whatever the ball boy did, however old he is, whatever he said before the game - you can't kick a ball boy. I'm not defending him, but you telling me all this stuff about who he was/ what he did is completely irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make. Hazard kicked him (or the ball, but whatever) - you can't do that, regardless of what a little shit the ball boy is. Saying that because the ball boy was lying on the ball first somehow justifies Hazard's actions is bullshit when it comes to the rules. You can't do what he did.

I get your point, Hazard broke the rules by interfering with the ball boy and received a red card for that just like he would had it been a spectator that had invaded the pitch. My initial point is a lot of the blame for the incident rests on the shoulders of the ball boy, if he doesn't do what he did then this wouldn't have happened, that was my initial point which you called retarded.

Well, I think it's unwise to try and somehow justify Hazard's action because of what the ball boy was doing first. I don't think the ball boy deserves any sympathy, but you can't say "if the ball boy doesn't lie on the ball, Hazard doesn't kick him" to defend Hazard in the eyes of the law. Yeah, he was a little shit, but under no circumstances can you kick a ball boy. All of this talk about the ball boy's actions are irrelevant when it comes to Hazard's punishment.

Personally I think it's extremely harsh on Hazard that he'll be fined for this and banned whilst Swansea will probably escape without punishment despite the incident being caused by a ball boy they've (employed or chosen to do that job).

Yes the rules say you can't touch spectators, ball boys and referees, but some common sense needs to be applied to this, the reaction by the media and some people has been well over the top, you'd swear Hazard had dived two footed at his head the way people are going on about it.

I don't think it's irrelevant to mention what the ball boy did and how it appears he had set out to do it before kick off in this case when related to Hazard's punishment, I mean he's got a level of responsibility for his own actions and he's already accepted that, but this should never have happened and Hazard only carries a certain amount of blame.

You're missing my point. Whatever the ball boy did, however old he is, whatever he said before the game - you can't kick a ball boy. I'm not defending him, but you telling me all this stuff about who he was/ what he did is completely irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make. Hazard kicked him (or the ball, but whatever) - you can't do that, regardless of what a little shit the ball boy is. Saying that because the ball boy was lying on the ball first somehow justifies Hazard's actions is bullshit when it comes to the rules. You can't do what he did.

Stop talking utter bollocks. It was a love tap. If he'd done that to anyone else on the pitch it would be a red, 3 games.

Wish people would stop trying to turn a 17 yr old sheep shagging dickhead into a martyr.