Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal (Agg: 2-3): Sonia Bompastor fumes again on VAR after Katie McCabe hair pull on Alyssa Thompson not reviewed in WCL game
Sonia Bompastor was shown two yellow cards, resulting in a red, in Chelsea's Women's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal; Katie McCabe was not penalised for pulling Alyssa Thompson's hair; the Blues lost 3-2 on aggregate despite winning the second leg 1-0
Thursday 2 April 2026 13:52, UK
Sonia Bompastor once again took aim at VAR after the system did not review a Katie McCabe hair pull on Alyssa Thompson for a red card - with the Chelsea boss instead being booked and then sent off.
Bompastor received her first yellow card for her angry protests after McCabe was not penalised late in the game, shouting at the referee as the card was brandished. VAR would have looked at the incident and, with no review, clearly did not see an issue with the on-field decision.
Then less than a minute later, Bompastor encroached on the pitch as she tried to quickly retrieve the ball for her side, and was shown a red card following a second booking.
While she said little about whether she deserved to be sent off, she was adamant that VAR should have checked the hair-pulling incident, once again questioning the use of the technology in the women's game after similar comments made after the first leg.
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"In the moment, I was emotional because I think it's clear for everyone," Bompastor said.
"I can probably understand the referees sometimes can't see that, but I don't understand - and it's not been the first time now - why the VAR is not checking that situation?
"Why are they not going back to that, checking and having a clear call on that? Because the impact on my player she was emotional.
"At the end, I'm the one who gets a red card, where I think the Arsenal player should be the one who gets a red card.
"What is the VAR doing in these games? If we have the VAR, why are we not checking these situations? I don't understand, and it's not good enough."
She added to BBC Sport that Thompson had been upset by the incident, saying: "She was crying.
"She's trying her best on the pitch in both games and it is not good enough. When you are playing football and someone pulls your hair, it's bad. She was emotional with that situation and the result."
However, McCabe said on social media that her hair pull had not been intentional, posting: "I just want to clarify that I was genuinely reaching for the shirt, I wouldn't ever want to pull someone's hair. Full respect to Thompson."
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers added: "I have seen the still picture back. I didn't see the incident on the pitch when it was happening but I did see Katie going to Alyssa to apologise. My assumption is it's not intentional but it is of course unlucky. I have to watch it back before I comment more."
Bompastor also went further to point out how the referee Frida Klarlund and VAR official Katrin Rafalski had previously made mistakes in the Champions League.
"The referee who was refereeing the game was the one who, two years ago for Chelsea, didn't allow the ball for offside, but it was onside," she said.
"I think she was the one who also gave a penalty kick to Real Madrid, and the foul was outside the box.
"And the one who was doing the VAR was the one who disallowed our goal against Barcelona when [Catarina] Macario scored and that goal was onside.
"So I'm just questioning, why are these referees coming into this game with what happened in the first leg, refereeing these games? I don't think that's good enough.
"I'm really frustrated and upset, but not only for me, but my players deserve more respect for the performance they put on the pitch."
It was a chaotic end to the all-WSL Women's Champions League quarter-final tie, which Arsenal won 3-2 on aggregate despite Chelsea's 1-0 win on the night.
The Gunners will face either Lyon or Wolfsburg in the semi-finals which begin at the end of April. The two European heavyweights meet in their second leg on Thursday evening.
Bompastor likely to avoid further punishment as UEFA back their officials
Sky Sports News understands UEFA has full faith in the officials selected in the Champions League this season given their experience in European and international competitions.
They're also confident in their training and development plans for referees in the women's game, something they've invested heavily in over the last few years.
UEFA is still waiting for match reports but it is unlikely Bompastor will face disciplinary action for highlighting her longstanding grievances with referee Frida Klarlund.
No comment is being given from European football's governing body over whether McCabe should have been sent off following the hair pull on Thompson last night.
But it's understood the decision to rule out Buurman's goal in the first leg was seen as the right call given the on-field decision from the referee and the evidence not being strong enough to suggest going against it.
Analysis: Bompastor frustration understandable after errors from officials
Sky Sports News' James Green:
"Sonia Bompastor is incredibly frustrated right now. The fact VAR did not intervene on the most obvious hair pull - intentional or not - beggars belief. The irony was it wasn't even given as a foul. It happened right in front of Bompastor. I understand the frustration - but it didn't come just from last night.
"It came from last week and the first leg too. After last week's game she had a problem with VAR and said the women's game needed more respect after Veerle Buurman's goal was ruled out for a foul.
"She talked about the referee being the same one who made errors in previous games against Chelsea in the Champions League - a penalty for Real Madrid in 2023 that was outside the box and a goal against Barcelona that was flagged offside but was onside in November 2025.
"So she had history with the referee in the first leg and this officiating in the second leg. You can understand the frustration."
