Women’s Super League: Chelsea vs Manchester United postponed with one week’s notice

Chelsea’s Women’s Super League match at home against Manchester United this Sunday has been postponed with a week’s notice.

It was called off due to a conflict with the Blues’ European schedule.

The draw for the Women’s Champions League took place on Friday and Chelsea’s group match at home to Real Madrid is scheduled for just two days after the United match – on Tuesday, October 8.

Chelsea said “numerous discussions” have taken place to seek an “amicable resolution to this scheduling conflict” but have proven unsuccessful.

A club statement added: “It is therefore with sincere regret that we have no choice but to confirm the postponement of next weekend’s WSL match.

“We are extremely disappointed with the outcome but would like to reiterate that the welfare of the players and the impact on our supporters is of the utmost importance to us.”

A new date for the WSL match, which would be broadcast live on Sky Sports, is yet to be confirmed. Ticket refunds are possible up to 48 hours before that date.

The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), which runs the WSL, said: “We apologize for any inconvenience caused to fans. In this case we must put the welfare of the players first.”

As UEFA had published its fixture list a year ago, the WPLL had been in regular contact with UEFA prior to the draw and requested that no English team be allowed to play on October 8 as they had anticipated the potential problem.

UEFA told BBC Sport: “There are two established draw principles for teams from the same national association.”

This included assurances that a country’s top two placed clubs will play on “different days of each match week”.

The issue adds to wider scheduling concerns as the women’s game becomes increasingly crowded.

Earlier this month, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said he was unhappy with the scheduling and claimed the WSL and UEFA have “no concerns” about a lack of recovery time.