The business end of the UEFA Women’s Champions League is upon us, and we have some mouth-watering clashes in the offing.
Last year’s winners Arsenal came through an all-English quarterfinal against Chelsea to set up a semfinal against OL Lyonnes. The French side, who beat Wolfsburg in their quarterfinal, will be keen to avenge their loss to the Gunners at the same stage last year.
Barcelona romped to a 12-2 aggregate win over Real Madrid in the quarterfinal to further bolster their credentials as favourites. They will face Bayern Munich in the semfinal, with the Bavarian side making their first appearance in the final four since 2021.
With margins so high as teams get ready to battle for European football’s top prize, there is little room for error. Especially when it comes to refereeing decisions.
So let’s answer the big question …
Is there VAR in the UWCL?
Yes, VAR has been in use in the Women’s Champions League since the start of the League Phase.
Was it there in previous seasons?
Yes, but this is the first time it is in use for the entire duration of the competition.
VAR was introduced for the first time in the 2020 final between OL Lyonnes and Wolfsburg. It was again used exclusively for the 2021 final the following season, before being implemented from the quarterfinals onwards from 2021-22.
And is goal-line technology in use?
It is available for use only in the final. From next season onwards, it will be in place from the quarterfinals onwards.
Have there been any major VAR incidents this season?
Where there is VAR, there is controversy. So of course, we’ve had some divisive decisions this year too.
Arsenal’s quarterfinal against Chelsea was marked by two controversial VAR incidents. In the first leg, Chelsea’s Veerle Buurman had a goal disallowed when the score was 2-0 after the slightest of contacts on Laia Codina was deemed a foul.
“For sure the first goal is a goal,” Sonia Bompastor told a news conference after the game. “I don’t see with the VAR how you cannot allow that goal. That’s a shame, to be honest.”
Bompastor’s ire grew in the second leg after Arsenal defender Katie McCabe wasn’t shown a red card for a blantant hair-pull on Alyssa Thompson. The Chelsea manager was sent off for her protestations, and carried her phone into her post-game interview to highlight the foul.
In Round 2 of the League Phase, Manchester United defender Dominique Janssen saw VAR upgrade her yellow card to a red after a tackle on Atletico Madrid’s Gio Garbelini.
“I think the first decision of the referee giving a yellow card, in my opinion, was the correct one,” former England international Fara Williams said on the Disney+ broadcast. “You can slow tackles down, and the more you slow a tackle down, the worse they look.
“I feel like VAR have reacted more on the damage and the outcome of the opponent as opposed to actually the contact of the player’s tackle.
“I think VAR on this occasion got that one wrong.”
The red card didn’t ultimately hurt United, with Marc Skinner’s side holding on to win 1-0. The same can’t be said for the clash between Bayern Munich and Juventus in the League Phase.
The game was level at 1-1 going into added time, when Lea Schüller‘s effort was cleared off the line in the 95th minute. The referee deemed it wasn’t a goal but was called to the camera to review the decision.
The replays were inconclusive over whether the ball had crossed the line, and after a lengthy VAR check the goal was awarded to give Bayern a 2-1 win.
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As it turned out, the three points separated the two teams in the final league standings. Bayern finished fourth to directly enter the quarterfinals while Juventus had to settle for the playoff round, where they were eventually knocked out by Wolfsburg.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Canzi said even if you watched the incident 20 times, you wouldn’t be able to decide if it was in or out.
“We lost a point, which for us was life,” he said in an interview to Disney+.
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Juventus coach slams VAR’s decision to award late Bayern winner
Juventus head coach Massimiliano Canzi questions whether Bayern Munich’s stoppage time winner crossed the line in their 2-1 defeat in the Women’s Champions League.
