Former Ballboy Kicked by Eden Hazard Aims for $630M Vodka Empire Sale

Charlie Morgan, a former Swansea City ballboy infamously kicked by Chelsea star Eden Hazard, is reportedly close to selling his vodka company, Au Vodka, in a deal valued at approximately £500 million (about $630 million).

The incident occurred in a 2013 League Cup match when Morgan, then a ballboy, took possession of the ball and appeared to delay the restart of play. Hazard's reaction, kicking the ball out of Morgan's grasp, resulted in the Belgian midfielder receiving a red card. The event drew widespread attention and divided football fans.

Thirteen years later, Morgan, now 30, co-founded Au Vodka with Jackson Quinn in 2015. The company has experienced significant growth, selling over 35,000 bottles of premium vodka daily.

According to reports, Morgan and Quinn are in negotiations with American beverage giant The Sazerac Company for a potential sale. The founders could each receive around £100 million from the transaction, and they might retain roles within the company.

Au Vodka operates from a distinctive "fully gold" headquarters in Swansea, reflecting the brand's signature gold bottles. Morgan highlighted the company's expansion on LinkedIn, detailing its move from a small 250 sq ft office to its current expansive premises, growing the team from three to 96 employees.

The brand has attracted endorsements from celebrities, including football legend Ronaldinho and boxer Floyd Mayweather. Despite its global ambitions, the company has maintained its roots in Swansea.

In a notable turn of events, Hazard and Morgan reunited in a promotional campaign for Au Vodka two years ago, putting their past confrontation behind them. Hazard shared images of the reunion on social media, acknowledging Morgan's success and the long journey since the 2013 incident.