Bompastor demands more respect for women after disallowed Chelsea goal
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor said the women's game needs "more respect" as she voiced frustrations at the standard of officiating in their Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by Arsenal. The Blues lost 3-1 at the Emirates but had two goals disallowed - the first a controversial decision with Veerle Buurman adjudged to have pushed Laia Codina before heading the ball into the back of the net in the first half. Had it stood, that would have halved Arsenal's two-goal lead at the time to 2-1, just before half-time.
After Romanian official Alina Pesu blew for a foul, the video assistant referee (VAR) checked the decision but did not find a clear and obvious reason to overturn the original ruling. The decision was called "outrageous" by former England captain Steph Houghton on BBC Radio 5 Live. "It's really frustrating.
It's always more difficult to complain about the referees when you have lost the game, but it's not good enough," said Bompastor. "We need to really find solutions. When you are playing a quarter-final of the Champions League, you need to respect the women's game.
"You need to respect the players. They work hard every week to put a good performance on the pitch. For sure, the first goal is a goal.
"I don't see, with the VAR, how you can disallow that goal. That's a shame to be honest. It is what it is and it's nothing we can control.