Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor felt the level of officiating in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Arsenal showed a lack of respect for the women’s game.
The Blues slipped to a 3-1 defeat but had two goals controversially disallowed, with VAR upholding both decisions.
Arsenal were 2-0 up through goals from Stina Blackstenius and Chloe Kelly when Veerle Buurman converted Sandy Baltimore’s free-kick at the far post, but she was penalised for a light shove on Laia Codina.
Lauren James hauled Chelsea back into the tie with a sublime goal from 25 yards, before Alessia Russo spectacularly volleyed in Arsenal’s third.
Then, in stoppage time, Chelsea’s Kadeisha Buchanan bundled the ball home only to be pulled up for a foul on goalkeeper Anneke Borbe.
“About the officials, it’s really frustrating,” said Bompastor. “It’s always more difficult to complain about the referees when you lost the game, but to be honest, it’s not good enough.
“I think we need to really find solutions. I think when you are playing a quarter-final of the Champions League you need to respect more the women’s game.
“You need to respect more the players because they work hard every week to put a good performance on the pitch. And for sure, the first goal is a goal. I don’t see with VAR how you cannot allow that goal.
“We deserve the best referees so bring in the best. If it has to be from the men’s game, maybe. We have to make these decisions. We need to bring competence.”
Chelsea also hit the woodwork twice through Alyssa Thompson and James, but all is not lost as they came from two goals down to win in last season’s quarter-final against Manchester City.
Gunners boss Renee Slegers said: “It was a very tight game. It was a Champions League quarter-final, between two rivals, and it was a battle. We stayed calm and found solutions.
“For half-time I’m happy for the players. We’ll have to have a really good plan in place for the second leg.”
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