Emma Hayes blasts Kadeisha Buchanan’s bizarre red card as the ‘worst decision in women’s Champions League HISTORY’ after Barcelona knocked out 10-woman Chelsea in the semi-finals
- Emma Hayes called Buchanan’s red card the ‘worst decision in CL history’
- She received a second yellow card on the hour, with the draw hanging in the balance
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Emma Hayes branded Kadeisha Buchanan’s red card the ‘worst decision in the history of the Women’s Champions League’ after her Chelsea team suffered a heartbreak against Barcelona.
The Blues had gone into the second leg of their semi-final with a 1-0 lead after last week’s win in Spain, but a first-half strike from Aitana Bonmati brought Barcelona level before Fridolina Rolfo saved a 75th-minute penalty converted.
Hayes felt the decision was ‘soft’ but was infuriated by referee Iuliana Demetrescu’s decision to give Kadeisha Buchanan a second yellow card after an hour with the tie hanging in the balance.
Replays showed that Buchanan had won the ball, but because it was a second yellow instead of an immediate red, VAR could not intervene.
“We got robbed,” Hayes said. ‘Even the Barcelona players said the referee was helpful to them. I didn’t think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card.
Emma Hayes (pictured above) called Kadeisha Buchanan’s red card the ‘worst decision in the history of the Women’s Champions League’
Hayes felt the decision was ‘soft’ but was infuriated by referee Iuliana Demetrescu’s decision to give Kadeisha Buchanan a second yellow card on the hour mark.
Replays showed Buchanan had won the ball, but because it was a second yellow instead of an immediate red, VAR could not intervene
“For us, when you lose a game, we didn’t feel like we had the opportunity to lose it, that was taken away from us.
‘I was surprised when I saw her [the referee] selected, she is known for her easy cards. That was probably the worst decision in the history of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
“I really believe we were on top of the game, we just hit the post and we could feel the momentum going in that direction.
‘I stood there and looked at the fourth official and said ‘that will definitely be checked’ and she said: ‘That can’t be done on yellow.’ There’s nothing you can do when it’s such a terrible decision and it’s hard enough.
“The official made a horrible decision. We can’t talk about anything else.
I thought it was just so soft, but she’s a great player, Bonmati. Because Ash is outside of her, she is smart. She leaves her leg there. “You need everything to go your way, two yellow cards, a deflection and a penalty, everything went as it should.”
Barca’s winning goal came from the penalty spot, but that decision was also controversial, with replays suggesting Bonmati had initiated Ashley Lawrence’s contact.
‘I thought it was just so soft, but she’s a great player, Bonmati. Because Ash is outside of her, she is smart. She leaves her leg there.
‘They didn’t get any big chances all evening. We were at the top until the second yellow. I felt the momentum of the crowd and the players.
‘We can’t do anything about it. We expect the best from our civil servants. It’s really hard to bear.’
Barca’s winning goal came from the penalty spot, but that decision was also controversial, with replays suggesting Bonmati had initiated Ashley Lawrence’s contact.
