Pedro Neto banned and fined after admitting FA charge for misconduct during Chelsea's Premier League defeat away to Arsenal
Published 13/03/2026 at 17:07 GMT
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The FA have said Pedro Neto will be banned for one match and fined after admitting to acting in an improper manner during Chelsea's 2-1 Premier League loss against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The suspension comes in a week where Neto appeared to shove a ball boy during The Blues' 5-2 loss away to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 on Tuesday.
Watch as Neto shoves ball boy in 'shades of Hazard'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pedro Neto has been given a one-match suspension and fined £70,000 after admitting to a misconduct charge relating to his red card during Chelsea's Premier League defeat away to Arsenal on March 1.
The Portugal international, 26, was alleged to have "acted in an improper manner by failing to leave the pitch promptly and/or using abusive words towards the match official/s following his dismissal in the 70th minute," the Football Association said in a statement on Friday.
The FA added: "Pedro Neto subsequently admitted the charge against him. An independent regulatory commission imposed these sanctions following a hearing, and the written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course."
That punishment comes at the end of a week in which Neto's discipline was questioned following an altercation with a ball boy late in Chelsea's defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The Blues forward was seen shoving the ball boy when attempting to retrieve the ball to take a throw-in during the final minutes of their 5-2 loss in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie.
Neto swiftly apologised for his actions and ensured the ball boy was given his shirt at full-time. However UEFA have since said that it has opened an investigation into Neto's alleged "unsporting behaviour", leading to the potential of him being suspended for European competition.
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Neto apologises for pushing PSG ball boy - 'I'm not like this'
Video credit: TNT Sports
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Neto immediately expressed his regret over the incident.
"I want to say sorry because in the heat of the moment, football, you know how it is," he said. "You have a lot of emotions. I wanted to get the ball fast, so I gave him a little push. I wanted to say sorry straight away.
"In the end he came to speak with me, and he had a good laugh because he was happy I gave him the shirt. I said sorry like 35 times, I'm really sorry about that and I think he knew what happened as well, so he was happy as well with the situation.
"I didn't understand French but he said something, laughing as well, so I think he knew that I'm not like that, things happen. I was worried about him, so I'm really sorry."
Liam Rosenior, speaking before Chelsea host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, took a balanced view towards the incident. The head coach has previously called on his squad to be more mindful of their behaviour during a campaign in which they have already been shown nine red cards across all competitions.
"I've watched it back and it doesn't look good," Rosenior told his pre-match press conference on Friday. "I understand Pedro's perspective and his want to win but there are ways you go about it.
"I was so impressed that he wanted to apologise straight away. We all make mistakes, it's about learning from them and making sure they don't happen again."
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