Pedro Neto will be available for Chelsea's Champions League last-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain after UEFA decided not to ban him for shoving a ball boy. The Portuguese winger had faced a potential one-match suspension for 'unsporting behaviour' but received only a warning from UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB).
The incident occurred during stoppage time of Chelsea's 5-2 first-leg defeat at the Parc des Princes last week. Neto, eager to take a quick throw-in, pushed a ball boy, sparking a confrontation between both sets of players that required referee Alejandro Hernandez to intervene. A VAR check for a possible red card was conducted, but Neto avoided any on-pitch punishment.
After the match, Neto apologised to the ball boy and gave him his shirt. He also issued a public apology to the media. UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings last Thursday, but on Monday it was confirmed that Neto would face no ban, leaving him in contention for the return leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
Neto did not feature in Chelsea's Premier League defeat to Newcastle on Saturday after the Football Association handed him an additional one-match suspension and a £70,000 fine for his behaviour following a red card against Arsenal earlier this month.
