Fulham Keeper Under Fire for Interaction with Bournemouth Ballboy
During a recent match between Fulham and Bournemouth, goalkeeper Bernd Leno found himself at the center of a peculiar incident. In the second half of the game, Leno appeared to push a Bournemouth ballboy while retrieving a ball from him. The incident occurred during the 75th minute when a ball went out of bounds, resulting in a goal kick for Fulham.
Tense Moment Revealed Impatience and Frustration
As Leno reached for the ball, he seemed eager to hurry the ballboy in returning it. However, when the ball was finally given to Leno, he extended his left arm into the chest of the young boy. This act of impatience and frustration may have stemmed from Leno’s team already being down two goals with little time remaining. It is not uncommon for ballboys to act slowly when the home team is winning, which can exacerbate tensions.
Boos and Apologies Followed the Incident
The Bournemouth faithful responded to Leno’s actions by booing him for the remainder of the match. However, Leno did make amends later on. The goalkeeper and the ballboy shared a hug, and both Leno and the boy offered apologies to the crowd. Fulham manager Marco Silva spoke about the incident after the game, defending his keeper while also criticizing the ballboy for being too slow. Silva stated that Leno wanted to play quickly, but the ballboys had been instructed to hold the ball and delay the game restart. He clarified that Leno had touched the ballboy but had not pushed him.
Possible Consequences for Leno
Leno had already been issued a yellow card earlier in the match, and further disciplinary action may be taken against him as a result of the incident. The Guardian reports that Leno could face additional consequences for his actions.
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