If Chelsea’s opening Champions League group game had been played later on in the competition, the final result could have been very different.
Emma Hayes’ side ended up drawing 2-2 with Real Madrid on Wednesday in a match dominated by two big refereeing decisions which would surely have been the subject of a VAR intervention. VAR is not in place in the group stage – it only comes into effect in the knockout rounds – which left Chelsea rueing once again the way UEFA treats its showpiece competitions.
Chelsea were 2-1 up when Danish referee Frida Klarlund awarded a penalty for a foul by Jessie Fleming on Athenea del Castillo, which clearly took place outside the box. They had come from behind after Olga Carmona’s deflected shot had put Real Madrid ahead, with goals from Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr making the score more reflective of a game Chelsea dominated. But with Carmona converting the penalty for her second goal of the evening, Madrid had a route back into the game out of nowhere.
Jessie Fleming’s foul on Athenea del Castillo
The second call was perhaps more controversial, coming in the final minute of the game as Millie Bright launched a ball into the area that Charles connected with from a brilliant late run. The Chelsea away support’s…
