The teenage ballboy needlessly shoved by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno is a promising player with Bournemouth Academy, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.
Louie Jacob, 14, has been on the books with the Cherries since he was aged just seven and was identified by his father Courtney and others on social media just hours after the game.
Millions watched as German keeper Leno, 31, pushed Jacob as he handed the ball to him in a feisty match that Fulham eventually lost 3-0.
Bournemouth fans voiced their disapproval after the 74th minute incident booing and jeering Leno and chanting: ‘Who’s the w***** in the green?’
Even Amazon Prime commentators, former England goalkeeper Rob Green and Robyn Cowan, also voice their disapproval.
Louie Jacob, 14, has been on the books with the Cherries since he was aged just seven and was identified by his father Courtney and others on social media just hours after the game
![Millions watched as German Leno, 31, pushed Louie as he handed the ball to him in a feisty match that Fulham eventually lost 3-0](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/14/79370183-12904043-Millions_watched_as_German_Leno_31_pushed_Jacob_as_he_handed_the-m-93_1703688741764.jpg)
Millions watched as German Leno, 31, pushed Louie as he handed the ball to him in a feisty match that Fulham eventually lost 3-0
![Ten minutes from the final whistle Louie (pictured) and the other ballboys were moved and went to sit in the stands but a replay showed Leno walking over, apologising and embracing him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/15/79370485-12904043-image-m-108_1703689288540.jpg)
Ten minutes from the final whistle Louie (pictured) and the other ballboys were moved and went to sit in the stands but a replay showed Leno walking over, apologising and embracing him
Robyn said:’ There really is no need for that,’ and Rob replied: ‘Nope, frustration but he’s lucky to stay on the pitch,’ noting that Leno had been booked earlier.
Later as footage of the incident was replayed and the camera panned onto Louis, Robyn joked: ‘He’s going to get a few more followers on social media – fame at last.’
Then as jeers continued to echo around the Vitality Stadium, Robyn observed: ‘Not sure I blame them, what not to do when you are playing away from home.’
Cameras then zoomed in again on Louie who could been seen talking to a steward and saying: ‘I went to give him the ball, and he pushed me.’
Robyn added: ‘Yep, no need for VAR on that, my friend.’
Rob, who played for England, Norwich, West Ham and QPR, added of Leno: ‘You need to keep a low profile and he’s done the opposite.’
Leno had already been booked in the 62th minute for delaying Dominic Solanke’s penalty and many thought he should have been given a second yellow for the pushing incident.
Ten minutes from the final whistle Louie and the other ballboys were moved and went to sit in the stands but a replay showed Leno walking over, apologising and embracing him.
Louie was identified on social media within minutes of the game ending and his dad Courtney – a crane operator in Bournemouth, posted an image on Facebook from the match.
He wrote: ‘Louie getting limelight whoever he goes,’ adding two laughing emojis.
Courtney also revealed his son was a Tottenham fan like his dad and replied to a friend who asked if he got Leno’s shirt: ‘Louie said he’s ex Arsenal, he wouldn’t take it anyway.’
Another pal Taylor Johnson wrote: ‘Middle aged professional footballer rattled by ballboy, well in Louie.’
And Rob Penney wrote: ‘You’re a hero Louie we’re all proud of you.’
![Louie was at the Boxing Day game with his grandmother Lucy Jacob Baillieu who was chaperoning him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/15/79370143-12904043-image-a-107_1703689242317.jpg)
Louie was at the Boxing Day game with his grandmother Lucy Jacob Baillieu who was chaperoning him
![After the incident the ballboys were sent to the stand for the last ten minutes and the Premier League confirmed the multi ball system was withdrawn](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/14/79370215-12904043-image-a-95_1703688831346.jpg)
After the incident the ballboys were sent to the stand for the last ten minutes and the Premier League confirmed the multi ball system was withdrawn
![Bournemouth fans voiced their disapproval after the 74th minute incident booing and jeering Leno (pictured) and chanting: 'Who's the w***** in the green?'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/14/79370245-12904043-image-m-99_1703688903106.jpg)
Bournemouth fans voiced their disapproval after the 74th minute incident booing and jeering Leno (pictured) and chanting: ‘Who’s the w***** in the green?’
![Louie (cetnre) was identified on social media within minutes of the game ending and his dad Courtney ¿ a crane operator in Bournemouth, posted an image on Facebook from the match](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/14/79370225-12904043-image-a-96_1703688834668.jpg)
Louie (cetnre) was identified on social media within minutes of the game ending and his dad Courtney – a crane operator in Bournemouth, posted an image on Facebook from the match
![Louie had been with Simon Francis Academy in Bournemouth before being offered a professional contact with the Premier League side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/27/14/79370133-12904043-image-a-97_1703688844272.jpg)
Louie had been with Simon Francis Academy in Bournemouth before being offered a professional contact with the Premier League side.
Footage posted on Courtney’s Facebook page showed Louie celebrating after Tottenham scored against Bournemouth earlier this season at the Vitality.
Louie had been with Simon Francis Academy in Bournemouth before being offered a professional contact with the Premier League side.
A post on their Facebook page from 2018 read: ‘We are delighted to announce that after three years of coaching with Louie Jacob, he has become the first SFA player to be offered a professional contract with AFC Bournemouth.
‘Louie has showed simply fantastic attitude throughout his time with us, a willingness to improve and learn all types of different skills and apply it to his game.
‘We would like to wish Louie the very best for his new adventure as an AFCB player and we encourage that he continues to play with a smile on his face and enjoy the game, like we ask from all players.’
Louie was at the Boxing Day game with his grandmother Lucy Jacob Baillieu who was chaperoning him.
Courtney and his former partner Hannah Chalk, Louie’s mum, were not at the game and both declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
Fulham boss Marco Silva defended Leno after the game and said the ballboys had been instructed to delay the restarts and it had frustrated the players, adding he was a ‘top professional’.
He insisted Leno had simply ‘touched’ Louie and not ‘pushed’ him adding: ‘I spoke with Bernd about it. It’s clear he spoke to the boy after the moment.’
Cherries boss Androni Iraola hit back and denied Louie and his colleagues had been instructed to delay the game.
He said: ‘I don’t want to make anything because I’ve not seen it repeated, I don’t know what happened exactly but everyone has to be careful because they are boys who are trying to help everyone, not only Bournemouth, all parties involved.’
After the incident the ballboys were sent to the stand for the last ten minutes and the Premier League confirmed the multi ball system was withdrawn.
Football Association chiefs are not expected to award Leno a retrospective punishment for the incident.