Bernd Leno has been slammed after shoving a ballboy during Fulham’s Boxing Day clash at Bournemouth.
With the Cottages trailing 2-0, keeper Leno was eager to get on with the game. However, he wasn’t happy with how long a ballboy was taking over giving the ball back to him and gave him a gentle push.
The ballboy was soon spoken to by an official and appeared to be subbed off as he was spotted taking a seat in the stand. Leno's conduct drew criticism from supporters who saw the incident. The 31-year-old had already been booked but avoided a second yellow, but could face retrospective punishment.
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One raged: “What an absolute **** Leno is. Imagine pushing a young ball boy when you’re a giant grown man. Disgusting!”
A second said: “That should be a yellow card.” A third added: “Uh, oh, he's in trouble for that. Wasn't a huge push, boy should have milked it and gone down like players do.” A fourth said: "Classless act, suspend him!"
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Perhaps feeling guilty, Leno but then embraced the ballboy, but was still roundly booed by the home fans for the rest of the game. Clinton Morrison was watching the game for Sky Sports’ Soccer Special.
He said in the aftermath of the incident: “The ballboy’s been moved, he’s now sitting in the stand. But fair play to Leno, he’s gone up to him and given him a little hug and a high five and it’s all smiles at the end of it."
Fans also praised Leno's subsequent gesture to the ballboy. One said: "Good to see Bernd Leno apologising and making amends." Another added: "We all make bad decisions in the heat of the moment."
Fulham were already up against before Leno's shove, trailing to goals from Justin Kluivert and Dominic Solanke's penalty. Luis Sinisterra's stunning strike from the edge of the area deep into added time made it 3-0.
