Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard has explained why his infamous departure for kicking a Swansea ball boy in 2013 played into his hands after he was handed a three-match ban over the incident.
Hazard was involved in a fiery moment during the second leg of the League Cup semi-final – with Chelsea trailing 2-0 on aggregate – at the Liberty Stadium, when ball boy Charlie Morgan tried to hold the ball to run out the clock walk – as his side looked to reach the final.
As the Belgian tried to hook the ball from his arms and appeared to kick it in the process, he was given his marching orders by referee Chris Foy to cap off a night to forget for Chelsea.
Hazard – who retired in October after leaving Real Madrid – has since reunited with Morgan, who is now a successful businessman worth more than £40million thanks to his vodka empire.
Reflecting on the moment while speaking to ex-teammate John Obi Mikel on the Obi One podcast, Hazard revealed that the red card was a good thing for him.
Eden Hazard has revealed why his infamous red card for kicking a ball boy in 2013 ultimately worked in his favor
Earlier this year, Hazard was reunited with ball boy Charlie Morgan, who is now worth more than £40million thanks to his vodka empire
When asked if it was a bad time for him, Hazard said it actually came at the perfect time because his wife was about to have a child.
‘No, not at all, because after that match I came home and said to myself, “This guy keeps on the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball”, and then I get a red card?’ He started.
‘The funny story is that my wife had just gotten pregnant and the baby was now on its way that day. Some? Get a red card? Three games out? Perfect. That’s the reality. Perfect holiday, thanks guys!’
Mikel then burst out laughing when Hazard insisted the kicking incident was not intentional.
“They will think I did it on purpose, but that’s not the case at all,” he added. ‘It’s a bit like when you play on the street. Is someone on the ball? “Hey, give me the ballman.”
‘The funny thing is that I met him last week and we just had a chat, in Madrid.’
During that conversation between the pair, Hazard and Morgan posed while taking photos and holding up glasses of Morgan’s blue raspberry vodka.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘The fun of retirement is catching up with old friends. You’ve come a long way in 11 years, my friend @charliem0rgan, @auvodka x @hazardeden10.’
Hazard posted several other photos to his Instagram account, showing the two looking at a chessboard with several bottles of AU vodka on it.
They were also spotted riding together in a golf buggy around a golf course, with Hazard posting a photo of himself lining up a putt as the former Swansea ball boy watched in the distance.
Elsewhere on the podcast, Hazard also spoke about his weight during his career, revealing how he would return from being overweight in pre-season every year after rumors that he was often out of shape.
“It was true,” Hazared said. “But me, every summer I gained four or five kilos, because I thought that for ten months you give so much, push your body to the highest level and people kick you, so your free time is your free time.
‘Don’t ask me to do anything. I enjoy being with my family and going to the beach, so don’t ask me to go running in those three or four weeks. I can play football on the beach with my kids, no problem, but don’t ask me to run.
“But if you look at my whole career, the first month (of the season) is the part where I thought it was just the beginning, and then I flew from September and October because I needed time to rejuvenate my body and my mind to bring into balance. the best way.
‘So yes, it’s true, I came back after the holidays with five kilos, I knew it.
‘As Belgians we love beer because my country has the best beers in the world, so I won’t say I drank every day because that’s not true, but sometimes one or two after a good match is nice. .’
Hazard’s seven years of success at Chelsea saw the Blues win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups and two Europa League trophies.
Eden Hazard spoke at the Obi One podcast.