# Kicked ballboy turns £300m vodka empire sale

> The Swansea ballboy Eden Hazard kicked in 2013 has sold his vodka business for £300 million to American spirits giant Sazerac.
- Title: Kicked ballboy turns £300m vodka empire sale · Dailymail
- Summary: The Swansea ballboy Eden Hazard kicked in 2013 has sold his vodka business for £300 million to American spirits giant Sazerac. Charlie Morgan turned a viral…
- Keywords: charlie morgan, eden hazard, swansea city, au vodka, sazerac, business sale, viral moment, 2013 incident, chelsea, efl cup, jackson quinn, charlie slot
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/sport/football/article-16135183/Swansea-ballboy-Eden-Hazard-Au-Vodka-sale-Sazerac.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-09-16T06:47:55+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: charlie morgan, eden hazard, swansea city, au vodka, sazerac, business sale, viral moment, 2013 incident, chelsea, efl cup, jackson quinn, charlie slot
## Ballboy kicked by Hazard in 2013
Charlie Morgan was 17 when Eden Hazard kicked him during a Chelsea vs Swansea EFL Cup semi-final. The incident went viral and Hazard was sent off.
## Morgan didn't know it was Hazard
Morgan thought Juan Mata had kicked him during the game. He only learned it was Hazard after reaching the changing rooms.

> I thought it was Juan Mata who kicked me. I thought all along, I didn't know and then they said it was Hazard.
## Sudden fame changed everything
Morgan went from unknown to famous overnight. His mother received 20 phone calls on the drive home, and paparazzi camped outside his house for weeks.

> For two weeks I was super famous and then super not famous.
## Morgan launches Au Vodka
Two years after the Hazard incident, Morgan and friend Jackson Quinn started Au Vodka. The brand grew steadily from its Swansea base.
## Celebrity endorsements boost brand
Au Vodka gained popularity after being promoted by celebrities including Floyd Mayweather and Ronaldinho, expanding its reach globally.
## DJ Charlie Slot invests in brand
Nine years ago, British DJ Charlie Slot invested in Au Vodka and used his music industry contacts to further promote the brand.
## Business moves to gold offices
Au Vodka's success allowed the company to relocate to glitzy, fully gold-plated offices in Swansea, signaling the brand's rapid growth.
## Sazerac acquires Au Vodka
American spirits giant Sazerac purchased Au Vodka for £300 million, marking a major exit for Morgan and Quinn.
## Sazerac CEO praises the deal
Sazerac chief executive Jake Wenz said Au's achievements in over a decade were spectacular and rare, with big plans for the brand.

> What Charlie, Jackson, and Charlie have achieved in just over a decade is spectacular and rare.
## Morgan reunites with Hazard
Two years ago, Morgan sat down with Hazard for a chat and even used the ex-Real Madrid player to promote his vodka brand.
## Hazard's mother nearly cried
When Hazard discovered he had kicked Morgan, not Mata, his mother was close to tears over the incident.
## Morgan reflects on the kick
During their reunion, Morgan told Hazard he had been trying to delay him by throwing the ball over Juan Mata's head when the incident occurred.

> I chucked it over his head and different things and the fans started singing different things about the ballboy.
## Fans sang about the ballboy
The Swansea fans reacted to Morgan's antics by singing about him during the match, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.
## Hazard sent off for the kick
The referee showed Hazard a red card for kicking Morgan, ending the Chelsea star's involvement in the match.
## From viral to forgotten fast
Morgan's initial fame lasted only two weeks before the media attention disappeared completely, leaving him back to normal life.
## Morgan set for life now
At age 30, Morgan is now financially secure for life after selling his vodka business, turning childhood infamy into lasting success.
## From kicked to kingpin
Morgan's journey from being kicked by a Chelsea legend to building a £300 million vodka empire shows how one viral moment can change everything.
## Key takeaway

Charlie Morgan turned a viral moment of infamy into a successful business that sold for £300 million, proving that unexpected fame can lead to real opportunity.