Chelsea player Eden Hazard has apologised for kicking a ball boy during his side's 0-2 aggregate loss to Swansea last night in the Capital One Cup semi-final.

The Belgian international rushed over to retrieve the ball after the ball boy, Charlie Morgan, had fallen on top of it. With Chelsea heading out of the competition with less than 10 minutes of the match to go, an impatient Hazard tries to kick the football out from under the ball boy as he lies smothering the ball, and appears to accidently kick the 17 year old instead.

Hazard was shown a straight red from referee Chris Foy for his actions and after the match told Chelsea TV.

"I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise."

The incident has sparked heated debate as to who was to blame and whether Hazard should have been shown red.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted:

"I'm not the authorities but in my eyes its a red for all those asking. Us players do put refs in bad spots at times unfortunately! "

But Stoke striker Michael Owen took a different view:

"I'm not saying Hazard isn't in the wrong but I hate to see a person who instigates a situation then cry foul for next to nothing," he said.

Police say the Chelsea star will face no criminal action, but the FA is still to look into the matter and retrospective action will be taken against Hazard.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner