Video: Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne abuses ballboy; issues apology later

Kevin De Bruyne has apologised for using abusive language towards a ballboy

Wolfsburg’s attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has issued an apology after he was caught on camera issuing a foul-mouthed tirade at a ballboy during their 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

The Belgian was in a hurry to take the throw-in because his team were trailing 1-0 in the later stages of the match, and then proceeded to shout, “Give me the ball, you motherf****r”, when the ballboy failed to throw him it back to him.

The former Chelsea player’s outburst was captured on the pitchside microphone during the match, and he turned from villain to hero, when he scored the equaliser for his team, enabling them to draw the game 1-1.

Eintracht’s Under-16 coach Jürgen Hickert, who has helped organise ballboys for the senior team for a long time now, said, “So much of what you hear from Bundesliga players is questionable. In spite of their money and success, they should be role models. [Wolfsburg sporting director] Klaus Allofs said he is a good boy normally. Then he should talk to him about certain practices.”

It has been reported that De Bruyne has apologised for the incident and has admitted that the words came out "in the heat of the moment," and intends to send a signed shirt to the ballboy as a gesture of his apology.

His Belgian and former Chelsea teammate Eden Hazard was also involved in a similar incident with a ballboy two years ago, when he was sent off for kicking out at a ballboy during a Capital One Cup semifinal against Swansea.

Watch the incident here: