Chelsea again haunted by bad Refereeing calls vs. Real Madrid

When it comes to bad refereeing calls going consistently against a team, it appears Chelsea are never going to get a breather, be it the men’s or the women’s team.

Chelsea faced a tumultuous encounter in their Women’s Champions League bout against Real Madrid, with two contentious refereeing decisions sparking outrage and frustration among the Blues’ camp and their supporters.

In their quest for a maiden group stage victory, Emma Hayes’ side grappled against an early setback as Olga Carmona, the World Cup-winning scorer from Spain, propelled Real Madrid into the lead just 10 minutes into the game.

However, Chelsea swiftly responded with goals from Niamh Charles and Sam Kerr, flipping the scoreline in their favor. Yet, their lead was short-lived as Carmona struck again, converting from the penalty spot to level the score late in the game.

The penalty decision, though, ignited fury among Chelsea‘s ranks, with the replay showcasing that the initial contact between Blues midfielder Jessie Fleming and Real’s Athenea del Castillo occurred well outside the penalty area, despite del Castillo going down inside the box.

Adding to the contentious calls, an earlier goal by Charles was disallowed for offside following a free-kick. Despite arguments suggesting Charles was clearly onside by a considerable margin, the officials ruled it out, citing a possible interference by Kerr with the goalkeeper.

However, video evidence suggested no obstruction by the Australian forward in the goalkeeper’s line of sight.

Expressing her dismay in the post-match conference, Hayes vehemently criticized the decisions, labeling them as ’embarrassing’ and asserting that her team had been ‘robbed’ of a legitimate goal.

She highlighted the clear onside position of Charles during the disallowed goal and debunked any suggestion of Kerr impeding the goalkeeper, emphasizing the considerable distance between Kerr and the goalie.

“It’s embarrassing,” Hayes remarked. “I think we’ve been robbed. I’m absolutely shocked that those managing the game couldn’t see that.”