Chelsea manager Emma Hayes criticizes the referee following the team’s loss to Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final.

In a devastating blow for Chelsea, the team crashed out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League after a 2-0 defeat to reigning champions Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. The loss meant that Barcelona advanced to the final with a 2-1 aggregate score.

Manager Emma Hayes did not hold back in her criticism of the game-changing decision to send off defender Kadeisha Buchanan, calling it “the worst decision in Champions League history.”

Buchanan received her second yellow card just five minutes after her first caution, courtesy of referee Iuliana Demetrescu. The defender’s challenge on Patricia Guijarro resulted in her landing on Guijarro’s toe, but she also appeared to make contact with the ball. This decision significantly altered the course of the semi-final tie, with over 30 minutes remaining in the match.

Barcelona took advantage of their numerical advantage, with Fridolina Rolfo converting a penalty 15 minutes from time. This goal gave Barcelona the lead on aggregate for the first time in the tie, following Aitana Bonmati’s opener in the 25th minute, which leveled the aggregate score.

Hayes expressed her frustration with the officiating at the sold-out Stamford Bridge, revealing her pre-existing concerns about the appointed referee. She stated in a post-match news conference, “Even Barcelona players said to us they knew the referee was helpful for them. I didn’t think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card. We felt we didn’t get the opportunity to lose it. That was taken away.”

The Chelsea manager was surprised by the referee’s selection, as she believed the referee was known for giving out easy cards. Hayes described the decision as the worst in UEFA Women’s Champions League history and expressed her disappointment for the players, feeling that they were robbed of a fair chance to win.

Adding to the disappointment, Hayes will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season to join the U.S women’s national team. This means that she will depart the club without having won the UEFA Champions League trophy during her 12-year tenure. The semi-final clash against Barcelona also marked her final match in the dugout at Stamford Bridge, where the women’s team has played their most significant matches in recent seasons.

Despite the Champions League exit, Chelsea still has a chance to secure their fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title. They currently sit three points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.