Yesterday, Real Madrid achieved a draw against Chelsea in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League (2-2). The play that led to the final draw between the Spanish and the English was a penalty awarded in the 77th minute by the match referee Frida Karlung. The merengue striker Athenea del Castillo was heading towards the opposing goal, when the blue defender, Jessie Fleming, knocked down the Madrid soccer player.
The controversy arises because the images suggest that the contact occurred outside the area and, therefore, the referee should not have signaled the maximum penalty that Olga Carmona ended up converting. The world champion was the author of the two goals scored yesterday by Real Madrid. The disbelief of the London team was palpable, since they could only demand a rectification of the play from Frida Karlung, as there was no VAR.
Gerard Piqué did not miss the opportunity to give his opinion on this matter: “It’s inside the area. Very clear,” the former Barça footballer posted on his social networks. Chelsea coach Emma Hayes stated in a post-match press conference that she believed she had been “robbed of what should have been a 3-1 game”.
The English footballers saw a goal disallowed for offside on the brink of the final whistle that would have meant victory for Chelsea at the Alfredo di Stéfano stadium. Sam Kerr was more advanced at the moment of the cross, she interfered with the Madrid defense and as a consequence Niamh Charles’s goal did not go up on the scoreboard.
