Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal: Sonia Bompastor sent off after Katie McCabe’s hair pull in fiery finale
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor was sent off after Arsenal full-back Katie McCabe pulled the hair of Chelsea and U. S. women’s national team forward Alyssa Thompson in the final seconds of a tense Champions League quarter final on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
McCabe was not disciplined for the incident at the end of the second leg tie. The North London side, who are Champions League holders, lost 1-0 on the night but advanced to the semi finals 3-2 on aggregate. Chelsea striker Sjoeke Nusken finally broke the deadlock with a near post finish from a Sam Kerr cross in the fourth of five minutes of stoppage time.
The German international’s goal narrowed Chelsea’s deficit to just one with barely a minute left in the match. Seconds later, McCabe dragged Thompson to the ground by her hair, but referee Frida Klarlund neglected to call a foul, let alone issue a card, and play continued. There did not appear to be a VAR check during the match.
Thompson could be heard shouting, “She pulled my hair! ” on broadcast, which was carried by Paramount+ in the U. S.
McCabe could be seen approaching Thompson with her arm around her shoulder in what appeared to be an attempt at an apology, but Thompson did not appear to acknowledge it. Bompastor was shortly thereafter handed two quick-succession yellow cards to equal a red, presumably over the lack of foul given to McCabe for the offence. At one point, Bompastor entered the pitch near the touchline, attempting to grab a ball that had gone out of bounds.