Refereeing Controversy: Chelsea Laments Decision in Women’s Champions League
Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor expressed her frustration after the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. Bompastor criticized the referee’s decision to disallow a goal for her team, arguing that women’s football deserves greater respect and the presence of the best referees. The disallowed goal, a header by Veerle Buurman, occurred in the first half when Chelsea was already losing 2-0. Referee Alina Pesu considered that Buurman committed a foul on Arsenal defender Laia Codina. Despite the VAR review, the decision was not overturned. Although Chelsea managed to score a goal in the second half thanks to Lauren James, it wasn’t enough to change the course of the match, and Arsenal prevailed.Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze joined her coach’s criticism.“The first goal is a sure goal,” Bompastor stated in a press conference. “I don’t understand how VAR doesn’t allow that goal. It’s a shame, to be honest.”
Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea coach
Bompastor added that no clear explanation was provided to the team regarding the decision to disallow the goal.“I don’t think any player on the pitch thought that was a foul, apart from the referee,” Bronze commented.
Lucy Bronze, Chelsea defender
Bompastor also recalled a similar incident in a match against Barcelona, where a goal by Catarina Macario was disallowed for offside, despite the replays suggesting otherwise. The French coach, the only person to win the competition as a player and coach, emphasized the need to respect women’s football and to have the best referees, even if that means using referees from men’s football.“They always say ‘Yes, we are reviewing’, but they make the wrong decision and nothing changes. It’s frustrating,” she added.
Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea coach
Chelsea will look to come back from 3-1 in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 1st.“When you play the Champions League quarter-finals, you need to respect women’s football more, you need to respect the players more, because they work hard every week to offer a good performance on the field. We deserve the best referees, so bring the best”, she stated.
Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea coach
