Emma Hayes says it is “ridiculous” and “shameful” that goal-line technology and VAR are not featured in the women’s game after Chelsea’s Guro Reiten was denied a goal against Tottenham after the ball clearly crossed the line.
Reiten bundled the ball over the line in the 2-1 win for the WSL champions, but the on-field referees did not concede the goal. The Chelsea striker even drove off to celebrate but was left stunned when it was ruled he had not entered.
Fortunately for Chelsea, Lauren James scored seconds later when Niamh Charles, collecting a pass from the celebrating Reiten, crossed for her to tap home.
“I want to know why we don’t invest in it (technology)?” Hayes said Air sports after the match. “That must be submitted to the board that makes the decisions. It’s embarrassing.
“Everyone in the stadium knew it had gone in. To be fair, there could have been human error, but that’s what VAR is for, but I probably shouldn’t say that after Tottenham against Liverpool yesterday!”
“If this is the Premier League of women’s football, the top level, we have already proven that we can have VAR-lite, we had that at Kingsmeadow in a pre-season game.
“We can talk about investing in youth football, but we need goal-line technology. It’s ridiculous. We had it at the World Cup. We had it in the FA Cup final, but not in the semi-finals.”
Hayes later said at her press conference: “I said to the fourth official, ‘I bet you’re grateful that (James’ goal) went in’. Because everyone in the stadium saw it go over the line.”
“There is human error, VAR is not infallible, but not having goal-line technology in a stadium that already has it is madness. But at the same time, next week we are going to a stadium that doesn’t have it.”
“We need to have some consistency with it. I don’t understand why we don’t have VAR-lite across the competition. We implemented it in pre-season at Kingsmeadow so there are no excuses.”
What the experts said…
Karen Carney to Sky Sports: “We have talked about technology for too long. We are in the main stadium, great, but that goal could be the difference – it is a goal. The title could be won by two points, the relegation, the top four is me pity managers because for them there is no room for error, but why can we leave room for error in technology?”
Izzy Christensen to Sky Sports: “The game continues. These decisions determine the games. If Chelsea had not scored seconds afterwards, we would be looking at a completely different result and then at the end of the season we look back at things like that, which could have been avoided , then it is a major concern.”
Rachel Yankey to Sky Sports: “The biggest thing we can do is keep showing it and keep pushing for it. Then hopefully change will happen. Football has reached such a level that we can’t ignore it. It (goal-line technology) has to be like that.” over there.”
How to watch the WSL on Sky Sports
Follow the latest news from the Women’s Super League on SkySports.com and in the app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus special live blog coverage and in-game clips from live games on Sky Sports.
You can also watch free match highlights from every WSL game this season on Sky Sports’ digital platforms and YouTube channel, while all matches will continue to be seen on both Sky Sports Football and Sky Showcase, available in all Sky homes. even without a Sky Sports package, giving the competition more visibility.
In addition to coverage and visibility for the competition across all of Sky Sports’ main social media channels, the bespoke Twitter channel @SkySportsWSL remains the home of all Barclays FA WSL content on Sky Sports.
The Sky Sports WSL TikTok account gives fans 360° coverage of the competition and exclusive access to their new favorite players. Through fun challenges and interviews, along with behind-the-scenes footage, viewers will get to know the WSL’s many personalities and see the sport from a new range of angles.
Meanwhile, fans can also keep up to date with everything on and off the pitch with the return of Three Players and a podcast, hosted by Caroline Barker.