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Chelsea star, Pedro Neto has said the Paris Saint-Germain ball boy apologised to him at least 35 times after their Champions League defeat to the French champions.
Paris Saint-Germain played Chelsea at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16.
Neto said that he expressed regret after pushing the ball boy during the 5-2 loss.
Neto faced criticism and backlash from PSG players after he caused the ball boy to fall towards the advertising boards. The ball was out of play in the final moments of the match, and Neto attempted to retrieve it quickly.
The ball boy had already collected the ball and was waiting for the player to take it. Instead, the Portuguese player became physical with the young boy.
In a post-match interview, Neto acknowledged his errors and expressed that he was ‘truly sorry’.
“I want to come forward and address the incident that occurred on the pitch; I wish to apologise to the ball boy,” he told TNT Sports.
“I had already spoken with him; the emotions of the game, with us trailing, made me eager to retrieve the ball, and I gave him a slight push. I realised that I had hurt him and immediately apologised; that is not my character. I gave him my shirt because such behaviour is unacceptable, so I am genuinely, truly sorry.”
Neto also presented the ball boy with his jersey and mentioned that the boy apologised to him 35 times.
“I also gave him my shirt,” Neto remarked. “He was pleased to receive the shirt and apologised approximately 35 times.”
PSG ball boy said sorry to me 35 times – Chelsea’s Pedro Neto
