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Belgian FA condemns Hazard incident

Eden Hazard has been rebuked by his domestic football association © Getty Images

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The Belgian Football Association has joined in the chorus of disapproving voices following Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard's now infamous kick on a ball boy in Wednesday's Capital One Cup exit at Swansea.

Hazard, a Belgium international, has since apologised for his actions, but his national FA's chief, Steven Martens, believes the incident leaves a stain on the 22-year-old's career, urging him to improve his self-control.

"It might have happened in the heat of the fire but professionals are expected to be able to control themselves," Martens said. "They have to be able to control their emotions and when they don't that's unpleasant in general.

"It is unfortunate and of course it's not something we are proud of. No football authority or person interested in football likes to see acts of violence or lack of respect and this is what happened

"Of course as we are the Belgium FA we don't like it to be a Belgium national squad player but I am very much convinced that Eden himself will realise that. Eden is more than intelligent enough to understand that this is going to be a lesson learned for him. All of us make mistakes in life."

Meanwhile, reports in Friday's newspapers suggest Hazard will not face additional punishment from the English FA after his 'attack' on 17-year-old ball kid Charlie Morgan, with the three-game ban he will receive for the red card expected to be sufficient punishment.

As for Morgan, his previously modestly observed Twitter account was on the brink of attracting its 100,000th follower on Thursday.

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