Ballboy kicked by Hazard in 2013 set for £100m payout from £500m Au Vodka sale

Charlie Morgan, the former Swansea City ballboy famously kicked by Eden Hazard in 2013, is poised to reap substantial financial rewards from the impending sale of his premium vodka brand, Au Vodka. Reports indicate that Morgan and his business partner, Jackson Quinn, are in advanced negotiations to sell the company to American drinks giant Sazerac Company. If the deal closes at the estimated valuation of £500 million, Morgan and Quinn could each secure approximately £100 million, with the possibility of retaining key positions within the newly acquired entity. The incident that thrust Morgan into global headlines occurred during a League Cup semi-final between Swansea City and Chelsea in January 2013. At just 17 years old, Morgan had collected the ball and lay on it in an apparent attempt to delay the game. Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard intervened, attempting to retrieve the ball, and inadvertently kicked Morgan. The action led to Hazard’s red card and sparked widespread discussion among football fans and media outlets. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Morgan had previously been accused of wasting time, leading to debates over whether the incident was a legitimate tactical move or an act of misconduct. Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, Morgan went on to build a successful career beyond football. In 2015, he co-founded Au Vodka with Quinn, launching the brand as a premium spirit. Over the past nearly a decade, the company has experienced exponential growth, with daily sales exceeding 35,000 bottles. The brand is based in Swansea, where Morgan and his team have established a strikingly themed headquarters. The facility features a gold exterior, gold ceiling, gold café, and gold signage, all aligned with the brand’s iconic golden bottle design. Morgan reflected on the company’s journey in a LinkedIn post, recalling the humble beginnings in a small 250-square-foot office where he, Quinn, and another colleague operated before expanding to an industrial unit in Swansea and ultimately moving into the new gold-themed headquarters. Au Vodka has garnered support from notable figures, including Brazilian football star Ronaldinho and former American boxing champion Floyd Mayweather. The brand’s commitment to remaining headquartered in Swansea has also drawn admiration from local supporters, many of whom commend Morgan for maintaining a connection to his hometown amid the brand’s international expansion. Legal representatives for both parties are currently engaged in discussions, with Sazerac seeking to strengthen its foothold in the British spirits market. Morgan’s legal team includes DLA Piper, while Sazerac is reportedly working with Forsey Law Firm. In a surprising twist, Morgan and Hazard have reconciled their past rivalry, collaborating on an Au Vodka promotional campaign in 2024. The two former adversaries appeared together in a photoshoot, showcasing the brand’s products and seemingly putting their contentious history aside. Hazard posted images of the duo on social media, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to reconnect. One image depicted the pair seated at a chessboard amidst bottles of Au Vodka, while another featured them holding glasses of the brand’s signature blue raspberry variant. Hazard captioned one photo, “A nice thing about retirement is catching up with old friends. You have come a long way in 11 years my friend @charliem0rgan.” Negotiations for the sale have been ongoing for several months, with expectations that a final agreement may soon be reached. As the deal nears completion, Morgan’s transformation from a football-related controversy to a successful entrepreneur continues to captivate public interest.