Chelsea's Eden Hazard has apologized for kicking a ball boy who was preventing him from retrieving the ball in the League Cup semifinal against Swansea City on Wednesday.

Hazard, who was sent off, later met the 17-year-old named locally as Charlie Morgan, son of the Swansea City director Martin Morgan, in the Chelsea dressing room and apologized for the incident.

Swansea, which won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, held on for a goalless draw at Liberty Stadium to set up a final against Bradford City, but the main talking point was the bizarre altercation that led to the Chelsea midfielder's red card 12 minutes from time.

Belgian Hazard said he had not intended to boot the boy.

"The boy put his whole body on to the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy," Hazard said. "I apologize. The ball boy came in the changing room and we had a quick chat and I apologized and the boy apologized as well, and it is over. Sorry."

The red card shown by referee Chris Foy will lead the 22-year-old to be banned for three games, though there may be scope for that sanction to be extended.

"They have apologized to each other," Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez said. "They knew they were both wrong. He (the ball boy) was wasting time. Hazard wanted to get the ball back quickly and he was kicking. They both made mistakes.

"We will deal with this internally. He was frustrated and just wanted to get the ball back, but we will analyze it and see what happens."

Premier League players reacted to the incident on social media with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand condemning the Belgian's actions, while Stoke striker Michael Owen felt both parties were to blame.

"I'm not the authorities, but in my eyes it's a red for all those asking. Us players do put refs in bad spots at times unfortunately!" Ferdinand tweeted.

Former England forward Owen echoed the thought.

"Both the kid and Hazard were in the wrong. Not having Hazard tried to hurt him though. He just tried to toe poke it out of his grip," Owen wrote on his Twitter feed.

Tottenham winger and Wales international Gareth Bale was more sympathetic toward the player, also taking time to congratulate the Welsh side's achievement of securing a first appearance in a major domestic cup final.

"Unbelievable decision by the referee to send Hazard off but congrats to Swansea. Who'd have predicted this final?!" Bale tweeted.

Swansea reaction

Laudrup fears team will miss plaudits

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup was overjoyed with his team's League Cup semifinal conquest of Chelsea, but feared the Eden Hazard affair will overshadow its Wembley qualification.

"Well, I know it's going to take some headlines," Laudrup said. "I just want to say that, first of all, a situation like that you have to try and understand what went through the head of the man committing the thing.

"I was a player and I can understand he was frustrated and you want the ball boy to give him the ball. I can understand it to a certain extent, but there are things you can never do."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 01/25/2013 page22)