{"id":928,"date":"2026-04-07T00:44:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=928"},"modified":"2026-04-07T00:44:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:44:31","slug":"arsenal-women-lose-two-key-stars-to-injury-ahead-of-brighton-clash-as-renee-slegers-confirms-defensive-absences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=928","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Women Lose Two Key Stars to Injury Ahead of Brighton Clash as Renee Slegers Confirms Defensive Absences"},"content":{"rendered":"


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UEFA has rejected Sonia Bompastor\u2019s criticism of officiating standards in the Women\u2019s Champions League after the Chelsea boss slammed VAR for failing to penalise Arsenal\u2019s Katie McCabe for pulling Alyssa Thompson\u2019s hair during Wednesday\u2019s quarter-final second leg. The governing body insists it has full faith in the officials selected for the competition.<\/p>\n

Bompastor was shown two yellow cards, resulting in a red during Chelsea\u2019s 1-0 win, which saw the Blues crash out 3-2 on aggregate to Arsenal.<\/p>\n

The French manager was fuming after VAR failed to review McCabe\u2019s clear hair pull on Thompson late in the match, and also referenced the disallowed Veerle Buurman goal from the first leg.<\/p>\n

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Katie McCabe pulled Alyssa Thompson\u2019s hair in the final minutes of Chelsea\u2019s Champions League clash against Arsenal. 😳<\/p>\n

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor was booked for her protests\u2026<\/p>\n

Should McCabe have been shown a red card? 🤔 pic.twitter.com\/umEXlLLSwd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Bompastor Questions Why VAR Not Checking Incidents<\/h2>\n

\u201cI can probably understand the referees sometimes can\u2019t see that, but I don\u2019t understand why the VAR is not checking that situation,\u201d Bompastor explained after the match. \u201cAt the end, I\u2019m the one who gets a red card, where I think the Arsenal player should be the one who gets a red card. What is the VAR doing in these games? If we have the VAR, why are we not checking these situations? It\u2019s not good enough.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Thompson was reportedly crying after the incident, with the American winger visibly upset by McCabe\u2019s actions. However, McCabe later posted on social media that the hair pull was not intentional, saying she was genuinely reaching for the shirt.<\/p>\n

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🤕 \u2014\u2022 Arsenal\u2019s Katie McCabe even apologized for that Cucurella\u2019sque hair pull-back on Alyssa Thompson \u2014 but somehow the entire officiation team flagged it as a fair act!#CHEARS<\/a> | #UWCL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sus4UTnPiH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Magyezi 🫆 (@gyezi_) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

UEFA Stands Firm on Referee Standards<\/h2>\n

Sky Sports News understands UEFA has full faith in the officials selected in the Champions League this season, given their experience in European and international competitions. The governing body is confident in their training and development plans for referees in the women\u2019s game, something they\u2019ve invested heavily in over recent years.<\/p>\n

Bompastor\u2019s frustration is completely understandable given the obvious nature of the incident.<\/p>\n

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Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor showed a clip in her post-match interview, claiming Katie McCabe should have been sent off for a hair pull on Alyssa Thompson. <\/p>\n

Sonia herself was shown a red card during the game for dissent after reacting towards the referee for not stopping play. pic.twitter.com\/BoGHE2tCPs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Also read: Sonia Bompastor Refuses to Address Sam Kerr Exit Speculation Amid Chelsea Striker\u2019s Uncertain Future<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n