Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea: The women’s game needs more respect from refereeing – Sonia Bombastor

Bombastor appeared clearly upset on the touchline when she approached the fourth official to question the decision.

Chelsea’s players looked confused and their frustrations mounted, including Bombastor kicking the bottle, when Kadisha Buchanan’s late effort was disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Anke Burpee, although replays showed that was the correct decision.

When asked about the feedback she received from officials about their decisions, Bombastor said: “Nothing. It’s always the same. You go to them and ask them to make sure they made the right decision, and they always say ‘Yes, we’re checking.’

“But they made the wrong decision. Nothing has changed. When a human makes a mistake, you can understand more but when there is VAR, it is really difficult.

“I don’t think this is our first time this season in the Champions League. When we played Barcelona, ​​Catarina Macario’s goal was not offside. This has changed a lot. I just think they need to be better.”

Bombastor insisted it believed VAR was useful for women’s football, but referees using it had to be “the right people to check situations”.

In response to a question about how women’s football could be more respected, Bombastor said the solution was to bring the “best” referees to the big matches.

“If this has to come from the men’s game, then maybe,” she said. “If it’s coming from the women’s game, then [use] “The best,” she added.

“We need to make those decisions. It’s really frustrating. We need to bring efficiency which is what’s most important.”

Besso, 36, officiated in the Women’s Champions League this year and oversaw two matches in the European Championship last summer, including the opening match between hosts Switzerland and Norway.