Last month Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad ran a front-page story which accused Eden Hazard of faking an injury in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester City – a game in which the winger lasted just 30 minutes.
Hazard’s father responded to the rumours and called them “invented”. However, conspiracists continue to question Hazard.
Skeptics will not have been too impressed this afternoon when Hazard was again subbed before half time, limping off on 16 minutes at Crystal Palace, shortly after this innocuous-looking tackle by Joel Ward.
Hazard was replaced by Pedro, but it was Chelsea’s other attacking stars who combined to fire Guus Hiddink’s men into a 1-0 lead on 29 minutes.
SEE MORE: Oscar goal video v Crystal Palace proves Fabregas has still got magic touch