Fans have expressed their anger and frustration following the postponement of the sold-out Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester United, now set for next Sunday. The announcement came just a week in advance, coinciding with the release of the Women’s Champions League group stage fixtures.
Supporters of both clubs have labeled the decision as a “farce” and an “embarrassment.” The Chelsea Women’s Supporters Group voiced their dissatisfaction on X, stating, “Absolute failure by the league. The club had to protect the players. We feel for all the supporters who have lost money on transport and hotels. As we said yesterday, it shouldn’t ever have got to this situation.”
On Saturday, UEFA confirmed Chelsea’s European match against Real Madrid for Tuesday, October 8, which falls just two days after the originally scheduled league fixture at Kingsmeadow, a match that had been selected for live broadcast by Sky Sports over a month ago. In light of concerns about players having to compete twice within 48 hours, Chelsea and the Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd—responsible for managing the WSL—requested that UEFA reschedule the Champions League game. The Guardian reported that discussions were ongoing on Saturday, but no agreement could be reached.
Frustration has mounted in England over what is perceived as UEFA’s reluctance to negotiate. However, UEFA has maintained its position, stating that the calendar was published over a year ago and that its regulations stipulate that the three English teams involved in the Women’s Champions League cannot play in Europe on the same night.
In a statement, UEFA clarified: “These principles have been clearly communicated in advance and have been common practice since the introduction of the Women’s Champions League group stage in the 2021-22 season.”
