Hazard set to contest FA charge

Chelsea have hinted they will consider an appeal if The FA opts to ban midfielder Eden Hazard for more than three games for kicking a ball-boy during the recent League Cup semi-final defeat at Swansea.

Hazard was sent off at the Liberty Stadium for kicking the ball from under ball boy Charlie Morgan when the 17-year-old attempted to lay on top of it to waste time — a red card that means an automatic three-match suspension. However the decision has been referred to a independent commission which has the ability to extend the ban because of the severity of the offence.

Chelsea, who issued a apology for Hazard’s behaviour, accept the midfielder must face a suspension but would not be impressed by an extension. They must complete their submissions on the matter by 6pm tomorrow and manager Rafa Benitez said: “For a player that was in a cup competition, with this intensity and in the way that things are going on, I think that a three-game ban is enough.”

When asked if Chelsea would appeal if Hazard was ruled out for longer, the Spaniard added: “At the moment, we will accept that three games is enough. So we will see what happens.”

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill also waded into the debate, saying “It’s not really for me to comment, and whatever action is taken is fair enough. But if I was a ball boy I’d grab the ball as quickly as I could and throw it back. That would solve all the problems. Anything more than a three-match ban would be very harsh for me.”