Eden Hazard angered Chelsea fans when he swapped shirts with PSG's Angel di Maria at half-time of their Champions League clash, but why is shirt-swapping a tradition?

• Eden Hazard has been criticised for swapping shirts with Angel di Maria at half-time of Chelsea's 2-1 loss to PSG
• Mario Balotelli and Andre Santos have done the same in recent years
• The tradition originated in 1931 AFTER France's win over England  

Eden Hazard has been pilloried for swapping shirts with Angel di Maria at half-time of Chelsea's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.The Belgian, whose form has slumped for Chelsea this season, is not the first Premier League player to anger his fans with an ill-judged and badly-timed shirt swap.

Mario Balotelli was fined by Liverpool after seeking the shirt of Real Madrid defender Pepe at half-time of their Champions League clash in 2014, with his manager Brendan Rodgers saying after the game: 'It is not something I stand for – if you want to do that, you do it at the end of the game.'

Chelsea's Eden Hazard has been criticised for swapping shirts with Angel di Maria at half-time against PSG

Arsenal's Andre Santos, left, and Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho, far right, angered fans with half-time swaps

The Italian was promptly hauled off during the interval by Rodgers. Balotelli's team-mate Mamadou Sakho had done the same a year previously with Samuel Eto'o when Liverpool played Chelsea, and in 2012 Andre Santos infuriated Arsenal fans when he took the shirt of Robin van Persie – who had left the Gunners for Manchester United – as they walked off at half-time at Old Trafford. Arsenal's Theo Walcott was more savvy when he sought Van Persie's shirt in 2013 - he waited until after the game and did it in the tunnel to avoid the ire of his fans. 

Many fans think players swapping shirts mid-game illustrates a lack of focus and commitment, but why is the exchange part of football's etiquette in the first place?

Shirt-swapping is not a modern phenomenon – it is thought that its first instance occurred after France's 5-2 win over England in Paris in 1931.It was France's first ever victory over England - the nation who had invented and codified the game – and they requested their opponents' shirts to commemorate the triumph.

It didn't become an established tradition for a couple of decades, however, with FIFA citing the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland as the turning point.

In 1962 a 20 year-old Eusebio inspired Benfica to their second European Cup triumph in a row, and at the end of the match he was he was hoisted aloft by the celebrating fans.

'I had (Alfredo) Di Stefano's jersey in my shorts and I was afraid that someone would take it off me!' he recalled.

By the 1966 World Cup shirt-swapping was becoming an established post-match practice in important games, but it became the focal point of an incendiary quarter-final between England and Argentina.

A late Geoff Hurst goal gave England the win but the game is remembered for manager Alf Ramsey describing the Argentines as 'animals' and stopping George Cohen from exchanging shirts with Alberto Gonzalez.

Four years later Bobby Moore, England's victorious captain in 1966, was imperious in England's 1-0 loss to Brazil and was embraced by Pele in the centre circle after the game as they traded shirts.

Alf Ramsey stops George Cohen swapping his shirt after England's 1966 World Cup win against Argentina

Cheslea's John Terry, left, and Barcelona's Lionel Messi after the Champions League semi-final in 2012

It is one of football's most iconic images, centred on the mutual respect of two of the finest players in history.

Jeff Agoos, a retired defender who earned over 100 caps for the USA, has collected over 400 shirts from his playing career, and said: 'I suppose it is strange to keep these souvenirs, but it commemorates a very special moment, particularly when you are playing against another country or a big club.'

In 2004 non-league Scarborough hosted Premier League side Chelsea in the FA Cup, and 22 year-old goalkeeper Leigh Walker sought out his opposite number Carlo Cudicini after the game for his shirt – the Italian even signed it with the message: 'To Leigh, best luck for the rest of the season'.

Walker, who had helped keep the scoreline to 1-0, was delighted - but disaster soon struck.

'My mum threw the shirt in the washing machine when I got home on Saturday night because it was caked in mud,' Walker said. 'So Carlo's autograph has been washed out of his jersey - which is a real sickener.'

Roy Keane was scathing in his assessment of Hazard's half-time shirt swap with Di Maria on Wednesday, describing it as 'shocking'.

Roy Keane, left, occasionally swapped shirts after games but criticised Eden Hazard for doing it at half-time

The former Manchester United captain said: 'What has to be going through a player’s mindset in such a big game? You’re thinking about swapping jerseys at half-time? I wouldn’t even bother swapping shirts at the end of the game? At half-time? Shocking.'

Keane did occasionally swap shirts with opponents after the game, but his incredulity at Hazard's decision is matched by many Chelsea fans.  

The act of shirt-swapping, first seen 85 years ago, continues to be an emotive element of the game. 

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