The upcoming Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester United may have to be rescheduled at short notice, causing frustration for fans and clubs alike. This is due to the release of the Women’s Champions League group-stage fixtures, with Chelsea’s opening Group B fixture against Real Madrid set to take place just two days after their scheduled WSL match at Kingsmeadow, which had already sold out.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the WSL clash had been selected for live broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports, with the announcement made over a month ago. Both Chelsea and the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), the organizing body for the WSL, had requested for the Champions League opener to be scheduled later in the week. However, Uefa has remained firm in its decision.
Uefa emphasized that the match calendar was published well in advance, with regulations clearly stating that all three English clubs in the competition cannot play on the same night. In a statement, Uefa explained that the draw principles for the Women’s Champions League group stage prevent teams from the same national association from being drawn into the same group, and pair two teams to ensure they play on different days.
A Uefa spokesperson stated, “Uefa highlighted the two possible match days available in every match week and communicated it to national associations, leagues and clubs to allow advance planning. For the Women’s Champions League group stage draw, there are two well-established draw principles concerning teams from the same national association. These principles have been clearly communicated in advance and have been common practice since the introduction of the Women’s Champions League group stage.”
The situation remains unresolved as Chelsea and Manchester United await further updates on a potential rescheduling of their WSL match to accommodate the Champions League fixture. The tight scheduling has created challenges for both clubs and fans, with everyone hoping for a swift resolution to the issue.
