Emma Hayes has expressed disapproval of Jonas Eidevall’s behavior during Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal in the Women’s League Cup final at Molineux.

Wolverhampton, England – In a fiery encounter at the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes launched a scathing attack on her Arsenal counterpart Jonas Eidevall. The tension between the two managers reached boiling point at the final whistle, resulting in a heated altercation.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Hayes expressed her disappointment with Eidevall’s behavior, stating, “I think there’s a way to behave on the side of the pitch and not for the first time, I’ve been in women’s football a long time and I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today.” She emphasized that squaring up to a player is unacceptable and called for better conduct from her male counterparts. Hayes, who has never been booked in her 12-year career, believed that Eidevall’s yellow card was not enough punishment for his actions.

Eidevall, on the other hand, attempted to diffuse the situation during his post-match interview. He explained that the incident stemmed from a disagreement over whether to implement a multi-ball system. According to Eidevall, Arsenal wanted to use multiple balls, while Chelsea preferred a single ball. The decision was made to play with only one ball, and when a Chelsea player requested a new ball for a quick throw-in, Eidevall reminded them that they had agreed to play with just one ball. He denied any physical contact with players or coaches and attributed the emotions to the disagreement.

Looking ahead, Arsenal will shift their focus back to Women’s Super League matters as they prepare to face Bristol City on April 14 after the international break. Meanwhile, Chelsea will set their sights on the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, which will take place on the same day once their players return from international duty.