Women’s Super League: Chelsea vs Manchester United postponed at a week’s notice

Chelsea’s Women’s Super League game at home to Manchester United next Sunday has been postponed at a week’s notice.

It has been called off because of a conflict with the Blues’ European schedule.

The Women’s Champions League draw was made on Friday and Chelsea’s group game at home to Real Madrid has been scheduled for just two days after the United game – on Tuesday, 8 October.

Chelsea said that “numerous discussions” have taken place to seek an “amicable solution to this scheduling conflict” but they proved unsuccessful.

A club statement added: “It is therefore with sincere regret that we are left with no other option than to confirm the postponement of next weekend’s WSL fixture.

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

A new date for the WSL game, which was scheduled to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, is yet to be confirmed. Ticket refunds will be available up to 48 hours before that date.

The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) , which runs the WSL, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience to fans. In this instance, we have to put player welfare first.”

Given Uefa had published its match calendar a year ago, the WPLL had been in regular contact with Uefa prior to the draw and had requested that no English team be scheduled to play on 8 October having foreseen the potential issue.

Uefa told BBC Sport: “There are two well-established draw principles concerning teams from the same national association.”

Among them was an assurance that the top two seeded clubs from a country play on “different days of every match week”.

The issue adds to wider concerns about scheduling as the women’s game becomes more congested.

Earlier this month, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said he was unhappy with scheduling, claiming the WSL and Uefa have “zero concerns” over a lack of recovery time.