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In a revealing twist to one of football's most talked-about incidents, former Chelsea maestro Eden Hazard has opened up about the moment he received a three-match ban for a controversial kick at a ball boy during a League Cup semi-final clash with Swansea in 2017.
Rather than the expected frustration, Hazard shared a surprising sense of relief over the suspension, attributing it to a significant personal milestone.
During the heat of the semi-final's second leg, with Chelsea trailing Swansea by two goals on aggregate, Hazard found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
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11:09 - 04.02.2024
Eden Hazard Boldly Ranks Himself Above Ronaldo, Says He's Second Only to Messi
Former Real Madrid and Chelsea star Eden Hazard made some shocking claims, comparing himself to football greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
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23:14 - 03.02.2024
Eden Hazard explains the reasons for shocking Real Madrid failure
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard provides a candid review of his failed stint at Real Madrid.
Attempting to retrieve the ball for a quick restart, he ended up kicking 17-year-old ball boy Charlie Morgan, who was deliberately holding onto the ball.
The incident led to Hazard's immediate red card for violent conduct, a decision that typically would leave players and fans alike seething.
However, Hazard's recent conversation with former teammate John Obi Mikel on the Obi One Podcast revealed a different perspective.
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"No, not at all because after that game I came back home - saying to myself, 'this guy is just staying on the ball and I just tried to kick the ball', and then I get a red card?
"The funny story is my wife was just pregnant and the baby was coming now - that day. So me? Getting the red card? Three games out? Perfect. That's the reality. Perfect holiday, thank you guys!" Hazard said, as reported by the Sun.
Hazard expressed his unconventional satisfaction, highlighting the timing of his wife, Natacha's, pregnancy and the birth of their child.
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A Reunion and New Beginnings
The story took a lighter turn earlier this year when Hazard and Morgan reunited, a meeting Hazard joyfully shared on social media, emphasizing the long journey since their memorable encounter.
"A nice thing about retirement is catching up with old friends. You have come a long way in 11 years, my friend," Hazard remarked, acknowledging Morgan's success as the co-founder of Au Vodka, a venture that catapulted him onto the Sunday Times Rich List for 2022.
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