Ballboys get warning from FA

Ballboys at all England's professional clubs are being told to avoid time-wasting or other "inappropriate behaviour" by the Football Association as a result of the Eden Hazard affair, which resulted in the Chelsea midfielder being charged with misconduct yesterday (Friday).

Hazard faces an extended ban after the FA disciplinary unit found that the player's decision to kick out at Swansea ballboy Charlie Morgan constituted violent conduct, but ruled that the three-match ban that automatically followed his red card was "clearly insufficient".

Hazard and Chelsea have until Tuesday to respond to the charge, and they are likely to argue that there are significant mitigating factors, not least Morgan's clear attempt to waste time by lying on the ball.

The club will also point to TV footage which suggests that there was minimal contact between Hazard's boot and the 17-year-old, who is the son of Swansea's major shareholder Martin Morgan.

Hazard claims he intended to kick the ball out from underneath Morgan so Chelsea could continue chasing a two-goal deficit. The Belgian is also likely to point to his swift apology, and the club's acknowledgement that he acted inappropriately.

The disciplinary panel may also want to consider the fact Morgan tweeted his intention to waste time before the game, and examine his closeness to the club.

It is expected that the case will be heard by an independent disciplinary panel at the end of next week, and Chelsea are likely to appeal against any additional suspension on top of the three games they accept Hazard's conduct warrants.

John Terry received a four-match suspension for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand and any ban which exceeds that is likely to prompt debate about the FA's disciplinary system.

Announcing the charge, the FA said it would be reminding clubs, and the Premier and Football League, of the need for ballboys to act equably towards both teams.

Yesterday, Hazard received support from his manager, Rafael Benitez, who said the player had trained well and revealed that he had apologised to his Chelsea team-mates after the Wednesday's defeat.

South Wales Police announced that they would no longer be taking an interest in the matter after complaints from three members of the public were found not to warrant charges. Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said the club wanted to move on from the controversy.

Brendan Rogers, who was Swansea manager until leaving for Liverpool in the summer, said it was unlikely that there had been any instruction to the ballboys to slow play down.

"I know Charlie well," he said. "There was maybe a wee bit of gamesmanship by Charlie but certainly nothing sinister. I think any manager, player, coach would be happy if their ballboy did that."

However, Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp described Morgan's conduct as "disgusting" and said: "Hazard toe-poked the ball under the boy's body. Why is the kid lying on the ball in the first place? A lot of players would have kicked a bit harder than Hazard did. "

Meanwhile, Terry could start for Chelsea for the first time since November in their FA Cup tie at Brentford tomorrow, but Benitez is struggling for good news elsewhere in a squad that he admitted yesterday is too thin to compete on all fronts.

Benitez said that he discussed the squad with owner Roman Abramovich following Sunday's victory over Arsenal, and the lack of holding midfield players and attacking options was likely to have figured.

The interim manager will do his best to rotate for the tie at Griffin Park, but with John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses at the Africa Cup of Nations, Oriel Romeu suffering a long-term injury, David Luiz out and Hazard suspended for at least three games, he is short of options.