Chelsea supervisor Emma Hayes has known as on the FA to take the ladies’s sport “severely” in response to the WSL sport towards Liverpool being postponed after simply six minutes.
Arsenal’s journey to Brighton was additionally postponed though it was the choice to even play the Chelsea vs Liverpool sport within the first place that induced probably the most controversy.
The pitch at Kingsmeadow was deemed unsafe by the referee simply six minutes into the sport, though Hayes stated the motion shouldn’t have gotten underway within the first place.
A floor employees member prepares the pitch after the covers are eliminated. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Speaking to BBC, Hayes stated the sphere regarded “like an ice rink down the edges” and added to rising requires undersoil heating to be put in on girls’s soccer pitches.
“It’s not for managers to determine if it’s on – it’s as much as the FA and officers,” she stated.
“We must say to ourselves that it’s time for undersoil heating. We’ve received to take our sport severely. Yes, we will have our blowers and pitch tents, but it surely’s not sufficient.
“The sport ought to by no means have began. Everyone needed to get the sport on, however when you’ve got feelings of groups wanting or not desirous to play, that’s once you want a choice from above. The FA weren’t right here – they should be making the choice.”
The pitch is seen coated. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
According to BBC, the FA stated {that a} choice on whether or not a pitch is protected to play on is just determined by the match official and never by the league or competing groups.
It didn’t take lengthy for gamers to begin slipping when motion did finally get underway, prompting the referee to name the sport off.
“It wasn’t playable at 9.30am, so that they stated to provide it till 2pm,” Hayes added.
“There was a piece that was fairly onerous, so that they put blowers on it. They examined all over the place else and it wasn’t too unhealthy, however as quickly as you are taking the covers off it turns into a distinct scenario.
“On prime of that, the temperature hasn’t modified. When the solar rises and also you get your toes on the grass, generally it could actually change – but it surely’s a block beneath and never playable. I noticed Niamh Charles slip. I perceive; we’ve to place participant security first.”
Sophie Ingle and Millie Bright. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But Sunday’s drama must be a lesson discovered based on Hayes, who urged the FA to think about undersoiling heating to keep away from related points sooner or later.
“We’ve made progress with funding into the standard of grasses and surfaces throughout the league,” she stated.
“No sport on the prime degree of the ladies’s sport needs to be cancelled. We want undersoil heating – we don’t stay in Barbados.”
While Hayes and Liverpool supervisor Matt Beard could also be rivals more often than not, they had been each in settlement on the actual fact the sport shouldn’t have began within the first place.
“Players from either side have slipped,” Beard stated.
“Like I stated earlier than, the sport ought to have by no means gone forward.”
Sky Sports News reporter Jamie Weir described it as “farcical”, including: “I can’t imagine what I’m seeing.”
Emma Hayes, Manager of Chelsea, and Sam Kerr of Chelsea look on after the match is postponed. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Chelsea and Liverpool gamers additionally took to social media to criticise how lengthy it took to make a decision, with Blues goalkeeper Zecira Musovic calling it a “main joke”.
Chelsea defender Millie Bright tweeted: “On each entrance right this moment was unacceptable!! We demand extra for our sport.. DO BETTER. Thank you to all of the travelling followers and apologies for right this moment.”
It was not simply Chelsea and Liverpool gamers although, with Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema tweeting it was “fortunate nobody received injured”.
She added: “Players security ought to all the time come first. Only strategy to repair that is to demand undersoil heating or taking part in our video games in males’s stadiums. FA and golf equipment, please do higher.”
Teammate Beth Mead stated the scenario was “not adequate”
Former England and Brighton supervisor Hope Powell described it as “embarrassing” whereas in commentary for BBC.
“They ought to have cancelled it earlier than,” she stated.
“The pitch was onerous and it was a bit doubtful whether or not it could go forward or not. But to really begin the sport after which 5 minutes into it realise it was harmful, [with] too many gamers slipping, I believe could be very embarrassing.
“It shouldn’t be a very good look and it’s a disgrace for everyone right here right this moment. This is a worst-case state of affairs. It’s embarrassing for the league, for the gamers and everyone concerned.”
Assistant referee Chloe-Ann Small interacts with Emma Hayes. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesFans look on after the match is postponed. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
A spokesperson for the WSL stated they “labored onerous” with each golf equipment and match officers to securely play the sport as scheduled.
“Following inspections earlier than the match, the pitch was deemed to be playable by the matchday referee,” the assertion added.
“However, shortly after kick off, the referee made the choice to desert the match with a view to shield the security of the gamers, which is paramount. We sincerely apologise to all followers who travelled to the match. The fixture might be rescheduled sooner or later.”
