Coaches Call for VAR After Controversial WSL Match Decisions

LONDON — Managers Renee Slegers and Sonia Bompastor expressed frustration over officiating in the Women’s Super League after several controversial decisions affected a high-stakes match between Arsenal and Chelsea.

Slegers, the Arsenal manager, insisted that the team needs “justice” after two disallowed goals hindered their chances for victory. Arsenal’s Stina Blackstenius had a goal ruled out for handball, despite replays showing the ball never touched her hand.

Chealsea’s Alessia Russo scored an equalizer that stood despite being offside in the build-up. Slegers noted that a match-winning goal was also disallowed for offside, which appeared dubious on review.

“At the moment, if you ask me, I think in a game like this, we need just decisions. We need justice. That’s where I think VAR and technology can come in,” Slegers told reporters. She stressed the escalating stakes in the league with both title and relegation battles intensifying.

On the first disallowed goal, Slegers revealed her shock: “The players are celebrating, the stadium goes crazy… then I turn around and see somebody saying the goal is disallowed, so I was very surprised.”

Chelsea also faced controversial calls, with a yellow card issued for Victoria Pelova‘s tackle that many felt warranted a red card if VAR had been used. Bompastor, the Chelsea manager, commented on the officiating but refrained from deep critiques.

<p“It’s difficult to make comments on it because from the dugout you can’t see the same as they can on the pitch,” Bompastor said. “I understand that Arsenal feel a little frustrated, but I don’t want to make any comments. I haven’t watched the game [back].”

She acknowledged, however, that the emphasis should not solely rest on refereeing and instead urged attention on the play of both teams. “When you analyze the men’s game, it happens also… big games and we talk at the end about the refereeing,” Bompastor said.

Looking ahead, Bompastor reaffirmed her support for integrating technology into women’s football, suggesting it could improve fairness in future competitions. “I think bringing the technology into the women’s game would be probably the best call we can make,” she added.