Keith Hackett fumes with UEFA's official response to Chelsea incident vs PSG

UEFA should have punished Chelsea star Pedro Neto after he pushed a PSG ball boy in their Champions League clash last week, according to Keith Hackett.

Neto’s frustration got the better of him during the Blues’ 5-2 defeat to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at the Parc des Princes.

The Chelsea winger wanted to take a quick throw-in as his side trailed 4-2 in the 92nd minute in the French capital, and pushed a ball boy who had refused to hand him the ball.

A melee between both sets of players and staff soon ensued, but Neto came away without a sanction on the pitch after the incident, and he has now been let off by UEFA too.

Chelsea’s next match comes against PSG in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, and he will be available to play following their decision not to sanction him.

Keith Hackett frustrated by UEFA as Pedro Neto walks away scot-free

UEFA confirmed last Thursday that they had opened disciplinary proceedings against Neto for the incident, and a decision on the case would be taken in due course.

He then missed Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Newcastle over the weekend after accepting a separate charge of misconduct and a one-match ban from the FA for how he acted after being sent off against Arsenal on 1 March.

The Portugal winger will be relieved to have learned that UEFA have decided not to punish him for the ball boy incident against PSG, and have only issued him with a warning over his conduct.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett fumed at the lack of sanction from the governing body.

He said: “I am rather surprised that Pedro Neto has escaped any sanction for his push on the ball boy.

“One has to ask, who are the people that are making these decisions?

“I feel that a fine was warranted here.”

Neto looks set to leave Chelsea this summer amid Barcelona interest

Neto is now walking a fine line and cannot afford to display poor conduct again this season, or he could well be banned for more than one game.

His performances on the pitch have not backed up the petulance that he has shown in recent times, as he has failed to score in any of his last 14 Premier League games.

Football Insider recently revealed that Barcelona are interested in Neto ahead of the summer, and many Blues supporters have reacted to the links with excitement, which says it all about how he is looked upon within their fanbase.

It certainly would not be a surprise to see Liam Rosenior sanction his departure ahead of next season, as not only has he failed to shine in front of goal, but he has also made the club look bad with numerous off-the-ball incidents in recent months.

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