Chelsea F.C. winger Pedro Neto has been handed a one-match suspension and a £70,000 fine after his red card during the clash against Arsenal F.C.. The The Football Association confirmed the additional punishment, stating that Neto “acted in an improper manner by failing to leave the pitch promptly and/or using abusive language toward match officials.” As a result, he will miss Saturday’s important Premier League game against Newcastle United F.C..
Red Card at the Emirates
The incident happened during Chelsea’s 2–1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on March 1. Neto was shown two yellow cards by referee Darren England. The first came after he protested against Jurrien Timber’s opening goal, while the second followed a foul on Gabriel Martinelli as he tried to stop a counter-attack.
Despite arguing his case, Neto eventually left the pitch, forcing Chelsea to finish the final 20 minutes and stoppage time with ten players.
Ball Boy Incident in Paris
Neto’s troubles do not end with the domestic suspension. The Portuguese winger is also under investigation by UEFA after an incident involving a ball boy during Chelsea’s 5–2 defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie.
In the closing moments of the match, Neto pushed the ball boy while attempting to retrieve the ball quickly. UEFA has since opened disciplinary proceedings for “unsporting behaviour,” meaning he could face further punishment that might rule him out of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Neto Apologises for His Actions
After the match, Neto admitted his mistake and apologised for the incident. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said he had already spoken to the ball boy to say sorry.
“I want to apologise. I already spoke with him. It was the heat of the moment,” Neto explained. “I gave him a little push, and that cannot happen. I saw that I hurt him. I’m not like that.”
With the help of teammate Vitinha translating, Neto said he apologised several times, adding that the ball boy appeared to understand it was simply a moment of frustration.
Manager Backs Player to Learn from Mistake
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming match against Newcastle, manager Liam Rosenior acknowledged that the situation did not look good but praised Neto for taking responsibility.
“I’ve watched the incident again and it doesn’t look good,” Rosenior admitted. “But I understand Pedro’s perspective. He wanted to get the ball back quickly and push the team forward. He wants to win for the club.”
The manager added that mistakes are part of football and what matters most is learning from them. “Whether it’s a goalkeeper, a manager or a player, we all make mistakes. The important thing is how you respond and learn from them,” he said.
