Emma Hayes blasts Kadeisha Buchanan’s bizarre red card as the ‘worst decision in women’s Champions League HISTORY’ after Barcelona knocked out 10-woman Chelsea in the semi-finals

• Emma Hayes slammed Buchanan’s red card as the ‘worst decision in CL history’
• She was given a a second yellow on the hour mark with the tie in the balance
• ‘He’s reaching De Bruyne levels!’ Arsenal maestro Martin Odegaard HAS to be in the running for Player of the Year – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast 

Emma Hayes slammed Kadeisha Buchanan’s red card as the ‘worst decision in women’s Champions League history’ after her Chelsea team suffered heartbreak against Barcelona.

The Blues had come into the second leg of their semi-final with a 1-0 advantage after last week’s victory in Spain, but a first half strike from Aitana Bonmati brought Barca level before Fridolina Rolfo converted a 75th minute penalty.

Hayes felt that call was ‘soft’, but was left raging by referee Iuliana Demetrescu’s decision to give Kadeisha Buchanan a second yellow card on the hour mark with the tie in the balance.

Replays showed Buchanan had won the ball, but because it was a second yellow rather than a straight red, VAR could not intervene.

‘We were robbed,’ Hayes said. ‘Even the Barcelona players said the referee was helpful to them. I didn’t think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card.

‘When you lose a game, for us we didn’t feel we got the opportunity to lose it, that was taken away.

‘I was surprised when I saw her [the referee] selected, she’s known for easy cards. That was probably the worst decision in UEFA Women’s Champions League history.

‘I genuinely believe we were on top of the game, we’d just hit the post, we could feel the momentum going in that direction.

‘I stood there and looked at the fourth official and said ‘surely that will be checked’ and she said ‘it can’t on a yellow.’ There’s nothing you can do when it’s such a terrible decision and it’s already hard enough.

‘The official has made a horrific decision. We can’t talk about anything else.

I thought it was equally soft but she’s an amazing player, Bonmati. Because Ash is on the outside of her, she’s clever. She leaves her leg there.’You need everything to go your way, two yellow cards, a deflection and a penalty, everything went their way.’

Barca’s winning goal came from the penalty spot but that decision was also controversial, with replays indicating Bonmati had initiated the contact from Ashley Lawrence.

‘I thought it was equally soft but she’s an amazing player, Bonmati. Because Ash is on the outside of her, she’s clever. She leaves her leg there.

‘They had no big chances all evening. Up until the second yellow we were on top. I could feel the momentum from the crowd and the players.

‘We can’t do anything about it. We expect the best from our officials. It is really hard to take.’