By Megan Feringa
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes called on women's football to be "all in or all out" in regards to using VAR technology after her side were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
The Blues suffered the fate of VAR technology being in use in the League Cup final two weeks prior when a first-half opener against opponents Arsenal was chalked off for a handball in the build-up. Chelsea eventually lost the match 1-0 in extra-time.
Despite the use of VAR technology in the League Cup final, no VAR was in place for the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday. Currently, the Women's Super League doesn't employ VAR for its league matches, while the technology is used sporadically throughout European and domestic competitions dependent upon its availability at stadiums.
Chelsea looked to be denied two possible penalties in the second-half against eventual winners United as they attempted to recover from a shock two-goal deficit inside the opening 20 minutes. The first arrived following an apparent handball from United's Katie Zelem and the second as Niamh Charles looked to be fouled by Williams.
And USA-bound Hayes lamented the inconsistent use of the technology in her post-match press conference. "Niamh [Charles] said to me, 'how could they not think it was a penalty'," said Hayes. "I just can't see how they don't give those penalties.
"I've said it thousands of times, we have to have technology in the game. We had VAR [video assistant referees] for the [League Cup] final, not here and then it is in another final in the FA Cup.
"It has to be all in or all out. If we didn't have VAR in the Conti (League] Cup final we would've won."
United went a goal up inside the opening minute after Lucia Garcia and Leah Galton combined following a defensive error from the visitors. And 20 minutes later, veteran striker Rachel Williams headed home Ella Toone's cross to double United's advantage and leave Chelsea with an insurmountable hill to climb.
And despite having 70% possession, 26 shots - eight of which were on target - and nine corners, Chelsea could not upend United's defence and Mary Earps ' form in goal, instead conceding a goal to both of United's attempts on target.
The disappointing loss immediately follows the League Cup final defeat, scuppering any hopes of a first-ever quadruple or a second treble to send off long-time manager Hayes in style.
"No-one died, we lost a football match," said Hayes, who has won 15 trophies in her 12 years with Chelsea. "The frustration lies with us in the way we conceded the goals. It was a game we dominated, but you cannot gift two goals so early against top-level opponents. As a team we have to be better and we gave ourselves too much to do."
Chelsea remain in contention for the WSL title and Champions League, the latter being the trophy which had eluded Hayes during her illustrious Chelsea career.
"We have to get on with it, we've got a lot of games to go," Hayes added. "As always I'm reflective on what I need to do. Everyone is competitive so of course they will be disappointed."
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