UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea forward Pedro Neto after an incident that saw him push a ballboy during their 5-2 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

The Blues were left with a mountain to climb after a chastening evening at the Parc des Princes, as the first leg of their last-16 tie with the holders went sideways in the second half.

Chelsea paid the price for naivety and goalkeeping errors, but it was Neto’s indiscipline that stole the headlines as his lost his composure while hurrying to get the ball back in play.

Tempers boiled over in the first minute of stoppage time following Neto’s bizarre actions, and he could now face a sanction from the governing body for what UEFA labelled “unsporting behaviour”.

“UEFA’s disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course,” a statement read.

Neto apologised to the ballboy, insisting that his behaviour was sparked by the “emotion of the game”.

“I’m not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologise. I gave him my shirt. I’m really sorry about it – I feel I have to apologise to him,” Neto told TNT Sports.

“My French is not very good, and [Portugal team-mate] Vitinha came over and said to him I was not like this.

“At the end he [the ball boy] laughed and I gave him my shirt and said sorry about 35 times. He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation.”

Chelsea will attempt to produce a remarkable turnaround at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

The winner of the tie will face either Liverpool or Galatasaray in the quarter-finals.