Bernd Leno PUSHES a ball boy during clash with Bournemouth when retrieving the ball as fans slam the Fulham keeper as 'an utter DISGRACE' and accuse him of 'doing an Hazard'

Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno appeared to push a ball boy as his team were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Marco Silva's side were already 2-0 down when the former Arsenal goalkeeper ran over to the ball boy in an attempt to get game back underway.

After retrieving the ball, Leno appeared to push the ball boy with his left hand before taking his goal kick.

Leno later apologised to the ball boy, who watched the remainder of the game from the stands at the Vitality Stadium.

The Fulham No1 had already been booked prior to the incident, after delaying Bournemouth taking a second-half penalty that was subsequently converted by Dominic Solanke. 

Fulham's afternoon would go from bad to worse as Luis Sinisterra added a third goal for the hosts in stoppage-time, securing three points for Andoni Iraola's in-form Cherries.

Following the game, the former Arsenal star received widespread condemnation on social media for his actions, with fans branding his behaviour 'disgusting'.

One fan wrote:  What an absolute **** Leno is. Imagine pushing a young ball boy when you’re a giant grown man. Disgusting f****** a*******!'

Another agreed: 'Imagine pushing this kid ! Bernd Leno is an utter disgrace ! What an Idjhiiioooot. You just can’t do that for such a young ball boy.'

A further fan wrote: 'I’m even a supporter of Leno…but what the hell, man? This is not the response to your own failed efforts to stop the very stoppable first goal.'

Fulham boss Silva defended Leno post-match, describing the 31-year-old goalkeeper as a ‘top professional’ and confirming he had apologised to the ball boy.

‘The ball boys were always delaying, Bernd wanted to play quickly and he took the ball from the ball boy,’ Silva told the BBC.

‘He didn't push him, it wasn't strong enough and he apologised. He's a top professional.’

Other supporters compared the incident to then-Chelsea star Eden Hazard kicking a ball boy during an EFL Cup semi-final clash between the Blues and eventual winners Swansea in January 2013.

One wrote: 'No booking.. I remember hazard kicked a ball boy and was sent off, these decisions are so inconsistent' 

Hazard received a straight red card from referee Chris Foy for the incident for the incident, with the Blues going on to lose 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium.

The Belgian forward went on to meet with the ball boy in the Chelsea dressing room to apologise for the incident, and later insisted that he had only been attempting to retrieve the ball.