Image: The New York Times

Sonia Bompastor Sent Off As VAR Fails To Review McCabe's Hair Pull

01 April, 2026.Sports.7 sources

Key Takeaways

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.
Arsenal advanced to the UWCL semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea.

Chelsea-Arsenal Drama

The Chelsea-Arsenal tie became engulfed in controversy as coach Bompastor was sent off minutes after a stoppage-time goal.

“Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr cut a dejected figure as potentially her final chance of Champions League glory was ended by Arsenal in the “Battle of the Matildas” on Thursday morning (AEDT)”

7NEWS

The sending off followed a hair-pulling incident by McCabe on Thompson, which was not penalized or reviewed by VAR.

7NEWS

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.

BBC

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.

“Arsenal book UWCL semifinal spot after chaotic Chelsea clash, hair-pulling incident with Alyssa Thompson The Gunners had the advantage throughout both legs but a controversial hair-pulling incident overshadowed the result There's no denying the history that binds Arsenal and Chelsea, but sometimes a new chapter in the rivalry is what keeps things fresh and relevant”