Everyone has probably done this to death already but I thought I would weigh in on it: what should happen to Hazard?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubL5ux5WcBg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
In mitigation (and there's very little), the ball boy dived on the ball and made a bit of a meal of the incident, staying on the ground until a crowd of players helped him up.
However, in the big scheme of things, HAZARD KICKED A MEMBER OF STADIUM STAFF. There's a clear kick to the ribs, and it's not a soft nudge either. Besides which, manhandling a staff member, spectator or even another player is inexcusable, and for what? To save a few measly seconds and keep play moving? If Hazard stands back and the ball boy doesn't release the ball, the ref takes umbrage, the ball boy probably loses his job and Swansea issue Chelsea an apology. But this way round, Chelsea lose a man, the game and some potential silverware.
It will take a long time for Hazard to live this down, no doubt, but how long a suspension should he get for it? Technically it's assault on a person lying prone, which is pretty low.
I would say that, because of the disrepute involved, this is up there with racism. I would like to see Hazard serve out 8 games for this.
What do you think is a reasonable penalty?
Hazard warning
posted on 24/1/13
Is that true? The chairman's Huw Jenkins, the boy's name on twitter is Charlie Morgan.
posted on 24/1/13
Not likely, he's apparently the chairman's son
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Lies
posted on 24/1/13
Points to mitigate for Hazard:
The ball boy should have returned the ball.
The ball boy was obstructing the ball.
Hazard almost certainly never intended to hit the ball boy.
Hazard's team were chasing a win and he was frustrated.
Against Hazard:
There were still 13 minutes left and the ball wasn't Chelsea's - the keeper probably would have delayed the kick anyway. Hazard had no immediate reason to hurry.
The ball boy was covering the ball with his body. Common sense dictates that if you kick at a ball in this situation, you WILL hit the person. Hazard knew the risk.
If Hazard had just complained, the ref would probably have added time on.
If Hazard hadn't got involved, the game would have gone on and Swansea probably would have faced action over their ball boy.
As a role model, Hazard acted inappropriately in front of many fans.
Look for John Kosmina vs Kevin Muscat. Muscat got 3 games but he only pushed Kosmina. Hazard kicked a prone person.
posted on 24/1/13
comment by Chris - Farewell Arshavin! (U15205)
posted 14 minutes ago
Not likely, he's apparently the chairman's son
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Lies
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I was told that this morning and I said it can't be true as the names don't match but then I kept reading it on here. It's not surprising that it's untrue.
posted on 24/1/13
Should have kicked the wee off the ball instead of trying to kick it out from under him.
If someone did that in our league on a Saturday they'd get chinned.
And he's 17 according to Sky Sports, we're not talking about an 11 or 12 year old boy here.
posted on 24/1/13
Fair comment Rui, however would the referee have added the time on? From my calculations with them having a player down for at least 3 minutes, the ball boy situation taking around 4 minutes, 4 subs(?) there should have been atleast eight or nine minutes added on, yet there were six.
posted on 24/1/13
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posted on 24/1/13
He's probably about three years younger than Hazard
posted on 24/1/13
Hazard should be applauded for kicking a in the ribs.
Hazard
posted on 24/1/13
Hazard did nothing wrong.
The ball boy should be fined and banned.
I'm not joking BTW, what the ball boy did was a complete disgrace and Hazard should not be punished.