Sports01 April, 20261 min read
Sonia Bompastor Sent Off As VAR Fails To Review McCabe's Hair Pull
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Katie McCabe pulled Alyssa Thompson's hair late in the second leg; no red card issued. Sonia Bompastor was sent off after the hair-pull incident late in the match.
Chelsea-Arsenal Drama
The Chelsea-Arsenal tie became engulfed in controversy as coach Bompastor was sent off minutes after a stoppage-time goal. The sending off followed a hair-pulling incident by McCabe on Thompson, which was not penalized or reviewed by VAR. Bompastor protested and encroached on the pitch, receiving two yellows in quick succession.
She gave a furious post-match interview showing footage of the hair pull on her phone. McCabe later apologized, claiming she was reaching for Thompson's shirt.
VAR Failure and Refereeing Criticism
Chelsea had multiple grievances with officiating across both legs. Bompastor condemned VAR's failure to review the hair pull.
She pointed out how cumulative decisions contributed to the result. The episode intensified debate about applying VAR consistently.
Players and Fans React
The incident sparked diverse reactions from players and fans. Steph Houghton called the hair pull really, really cynical.
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze lamented the first leg disallowed goal. The controversy overshadowed the sporting contest.