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Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has apologised for shoving a ball boy during the Blues' 5-2 defeat to PSG in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes. The Portuguese international sent a ball boy flying in the final stagesof the tie as Chelsea looked to get back into the game, but the incident sparked tempers.

The Blues were trailing 4-2 when Neto rushed to retrieve the ball near the dugout - the ball boy hesitated to release it, prompting Neto to react impulsively. A brawl followed as PSG's players moved in to intervene.

Reece Jamesand Neto were in the thick of it, while Marquinhos and Enzo Fernández were engaging in some physical confrontation before referee Alejandro Hernández restored order and briefed both captains on the subsequent course of action.

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The Portuguese forward avoided a booking for the push, despite the ball boy's efforts to keep the ball away from him. VAR reviewed the incident but opted against showing a red card.

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Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Neto said: "I want to apologise to the ball boy. I have already spoken with him. With the emotions of the game, we were losing and I wanted to pick up the ball.

"He had the ball with him and I gave him a little push. I saw that I hurt him in the heat of the moment and I went there to apologise. I gave him my shirt as well.

"That cannot happen and I’m really, really sorry about that. I just want to say one more time that I’m really sorry to him.

"I feel that I have to apologise to him. It was in the heat of the moment, you know how football is, you have a lot of emotions. I wanted to get the ball fast, I gave him a push and I want to say sorry to him.

"He came to speak to me at the end and even laughed as he was happy that I gave him the shirt. I said sorry like 35 times. I’m really sorry about that and the situation.

"He knew what happened as well so he is happy with the situation. Vitinha said to him too that I’m not like that. I was worried about him and I’m really sorry about the situation."

Liam Rosenior's side have a mountain to climb when they host the French side at Stamford Bridge next week after the game finished 5-2.

The Blues battled well and looked to be taking a draw back to London, with Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez cancelling out Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele's strikes.

However, PSG turned the screw in the final 20 minutes of the game with Vitinha adding a third and substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring a brace late on.