“It has not been handled in the right way,” said Chelsea’s Magdalena Eriksson. “When you make a mistake, you always have to look back and see what you could have done better.”
Eriksson said there should “absolutely” be some sort of inquiry into why Chelsea’s Women’s Super League (WSL) game against Liverpool went ahead.
A pitch inspection at 9.30am after freezing conditions overnight and a confirmation tweet at 10.16am — the game was on. Huge white sheets covered the pitch like billowing clouds and the sound of heaters and blowers echoed around Kingsmeadow. Warm-ups were delayed but kick-off went ahead at 12.30pm, only for it to be postponed six minutes later due to player safety concerns.
Sunday was an embarrassment for the WSL and summed up the gaping holes in the infrastructure of women’s football. The league prides itself on being the most competitive league, attracting the best players, supported by a landmark broadcast and sponsorship deal, and yet it was a day in which the WSL showed all its frailties. The fundamentals of facilities and league-wide management do not do its players justice.
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes inspects the pitch (Photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead and…
