In a dramatic Women’s Champions League showdown, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has spoken out, declaring her side was “robbed” of victory by what she deemed as “embarrassing” refereeing decisions. The 2-2 draw with Real Madrid left a bitter taste for the Blues, who dominated their Group D opener.
Two contentious calls stole the spotlight and tilted the game’s balance. The first, occurring in the 77th minute, came shortly after Sam Kerr had given Chelsea a 2-1 lead. Real Madrid’s Athenea del Castillo went down in the penalty area after a challenge by Jessie Fleming. Danish referee Frida Klarlund awarded a spot-kick, but replays revealed that the foul had, in fact, occurred outside the box. Del Castillo’s momentum and the slippery surface contributed to her sliding into the area. Olga Carmona converted the penalty, securing a late point for Real Madrid.
Emma Hayes, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t hide her frustration. “I could see from the bench that the tackle was outside the box,” she asserted. “I’m absolutely shocked that those managing the game couldn’t see that. Of course, maybe Jessie shouldn’t lunge in that area, but it happens clearly outside the box. At this level, when you are in control of a game and important decisions like that go against you, it makes it difficult.”
The second controversial decision came in injury time, as Chelsea pushed for a late winner. Millie Bright delivered a sublime cross to Niamh Charles, who volleyed the ball into the net. Celebrations were cut short when the assistant referee raised the flag, ruling the goal out for offside. Replays, however, vindicated Chelsea, showing that Charles had timed her run perfectly and was comfortably onside.
Former England defender Gilly Flaherty didn’t mince words, stating, “That is a terrible decision.” She added, “Charles is so far onside it is ridiculous. If I’m Emma Hayes looking back at that call, I am fuming. Chelsea should be walking away with three points. From the angle that we have seen it isn’t even close [to being offside].”
Hayes, who is set to depart Chelsea to lead the US women’s national team in the summer, expressed her bewilderment at the decision, saying, “I could not understand the decision whatsoever. We score a really legitimate goal. It is embarrassing. I had to check why it was disallowed. Was it Niamh [Charles]? No. Was it Sam [Kerr] interfering with the goalkeeper? She was about seven yards away, nowhere near the keeper. I think we’ve been robbed of what was a 3-1 game.”
The frustration over these decisions is not new for Hayes and Chelsea. In October, Hayes called for VAR to be implemented in all Women’s Super League games after Chelsea’s Guro Reiten had a goal disallowed, despite the ball crossing the line in a narrow 2-1 win over Tottenham.
While VAR was utilized in the Women’s World Cup this summer, Uefa regulations state that “in principle, VARs may be used in [Women’s Champions League] matches as of the knockout stage.” The absence of VAR in the group stage, as seen in the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid clash, has clearly left some room for contentious calls, much to the chagrin of the Blues and their manager, Emma Hayes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Refereeing Controversy
What were the controversial refereeing decisions in the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid Women’s Champions League match?
In the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid Women’s Champions League match, there were two contentious refereeing decisions. The first was a late penalty awarded to Real Madrid when Athenea del Castillo was fouled by Jessie Fleming in the penalty area. Replays showed that the foul actually occurred outside the box. The second controversial decision came in injury time when Niamh Charles scored a goal for Chelsea, only for it to be ruled out for offside, despite replays showing she was clearly onside.
How did Chelsea manager Emma Hayes react to these decisions?
Emma Hayes, Chelsea’s manager, was highly critical of the refereeing decisions. She expressed her disbelief that the penalty decision was given, as it was evident that the foul occurred outside the penalty area. Regarding the disallowed goal, Hayes couldn’t understand the decision and believed her team had been unjustly denied a legitimate goal. She was visibly frustrated and felt that her team had been robbed of a victory.
Is this the first time Chelsea has faced controversial refereeing decisions?
No, this isn’t the first time Chelsea has encountered contentious refereeing decisions. In a previous match against Tottenham, Chelsea’s Guro Reiten had a goal disallowed, despite the ball crossing the line. This incident prompted Emma Hayes to call for the implementation of VAR in all Women’s Super League games.
What are the implications of these refereeing controversies in Women’s Champions League matches?
The absence of VAR in the Women’s Champions League group stage, as seen in the Chelsea vs. Real Madrid match, has raised concerns about the potential impact of controversial refereeing decisions. It can significantly affect the outcome of matches and lead to frustration among teams and managers. UEFA regulations allow for the use of VAR in Women’s Champions League matches from the knockout stage, which may help address such controversies in later stages of the tournament.
3 comments
this is so wrong, I saw that penalty, clear outside the box!
wow, chelsea robbed in that game, refs need glasses!
no VAR in group stage, smh, needs better refs!