Bompastor reveals frustration at new ruling after incidents in WSL opener

Men’s football / 10 September 2026 Chelsea blitz Leeds for six in thrilling League Cup clash 10 September 2026 Women’s Rugby Union / 10 September 2026 England quartet return from injury for Australia clash 10 September 2026 Men’s football / 10 September 2026 Mac Allister fires Liverpool to victory over Atletico Madrid 10 September 2026 Men’s darts / 10 September 2026 Humphries reveals mental health struggle that nearly ended career 10 September 2026 SONIA BOMPASTOR has hit out at the new rule requiring players to stay off the pitch after medical treatment, saying she has told her squad not to go down “except if you are dying.”

The regulation that was introduced this season means, in most cases, if games are stopped for an outfield player to receive treatment, they must then go off for 60 seconds.

Bompastor was particularly unhappy about two instances in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in their Women’s Super League opener last Saturday that saw Sjoeke Nusken twice forced off.

“I don’t think that’s the reason we dropped points on the weekend and we couldn’t win the game,” said head coach Bompastor.

“But we had three different situations and we got really impacted in one of them, the third one, with Nusken, who had to come off the pitch, and Villa scored when we were one player down.”

Bompastor did not feel correct protocol was followed in an earlier incident, arguing the referee had made the decision for medical assistance to be called, while she was also not happy with the length of time her player was made to stay on the sidelines.

“We spoke with the referee at half-time about particularly that first situation with Nusken and he said, ‘The player told me to ask the medical [team] to come in’,” said the Frenchwoman.

“But that’s not the truth. The player didn’t even talk to him. He just made the decision.

“The referees need to understand the impact. It’s one minute and in that situation it was not even one minute, it was more than that, it was 90 seconds.

“It needs to be better. Maybe some players will keep playing with having an injury, which is also not good enough. I told my players, except if you are dying, you stay on the pitch, and that’s not what we want.”

Bompastor’s Blues will travel to face Eva Olid’s Manchester United at lunchtime on Sunday.