Heartache for Hayes
Chelsea boss raps red card and says ‘we were robbed’
EMMA HAYES slammed the ‘worst decision in Champions League history’ as her Chelsea side suffered heartbreak against Barcelona for a third time.
The Catalans beat the Blues in the final in 2021 and in the semis last season. And last night, Barcelona ended Hayes’ hopes of winning the one trophy that has eluded her in her final season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues had come into the second leg with a 1-0 advantage, but a first-half strike from Aitana Bonmati brought Barca level before Fridolina Rolfo converted a
75th minute penalty.
Hayes felt the penalty call was ‘soft’, but was left raging by referee Iuliana Demetrescu’s decision on the hour to give Kadeisha Buchanan a second yellow card.
Replays showed Buchanan won the ball, but because it was a second yellow rather than a straight red, VAR could not intervene. ‘We were robbed,’ Hayes said. ‘Even the Barcelona players said the referee was helpful to them. I didn’t think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card.
‘When you lose a game, for us we didn’t feel we got the opportunity to lose it, that was taken away.
‘That was probably the worst decision in UEFA Women’s Champions League history. I genuinely believe we were on top, we’d just hit the post, we could feel the momentum going in that
direction. I stood there and looked at the fourth official and said, “Surely that will be checked?” and she said, “It can’t on a yellow”. There’s nothing you can do when it’s such a terrible decision and it’s already hard enough.
‘The official has made a horrific decision. We can’t talk about anything else.’
It was not the Stamford Bridge swansong that Hayes deserved. Chelsea may still win the Women’s Super League title, but they could also finish the season without silverware. Football and fairytales do not always go hand in hand.
Chelsea had weathered the storm in last night’s opening stages, but their resistance was broken in the 25th minute when Bonmati’s shot from the edge of the box deflected off Buchanan and into the bottom right corner.
Catarina Macario, Melanie Leupolz and Erin Cuthbert all saw big chances for Chelsea go begging before Sjoeke Nusken hit the post.
With the sides level on aggregate, the game turned when Buchanan got the second yellow. Chelsea’s 10 players then did well to keep Barca at bay until the questionable penalty in the 75th minute.
Bonmati went to ground under pressure. Replays indicated she initiated contact, but VAR did not intervene. Rolfo converted, ending Hayes and Chelsea’s dream one final time.