Emma Hayes has called for the women's game to be afforded equal opportunities to ensure that fixtures are not cancelled in the future, insisting that it has a 'detrimental impact on our sport'.
The Chelsea Women's boss has publicly shared her dismay at her side's WSL clash with Liverpool on Sunday being abandoned after just six minutes due to a frozen pitch - despite the game passing a pitch inspection two-and-a-half hours before kick off.
Speaking on Tuesday, Hayes called for more to be done in the women's game to make sure fans are not left in a similar situation.
'I've said this for years, cancelling games has a detrimental impact on our sport,' she said.
'So whatever that takes to ensure that fans who are travelling from up and down the country are not showing up and having a game cancelled six minutes in is something we should all work towards.'
Chelsea’s game was one of three to be postponed in the WSL. Tottenham v Leicester was called off on Saturday night while Brighton’s game with Arsenal was postponed two and a half hours before kick-off.
'If this is the top division for women's football then it should be afforded exactly the same opportunity,' Hayes added.
'So as far as I'm concerned this isn't about Chelsea, this is about Women's Football and being in a place where we are working hard to build a fanbase, to build a business, to build all of those things with many, many years without equal access to things.'
Hayes, who promised to buy fans a hot dog at the next game in an impassioned speech at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, suggested that an environmentally friendly alternative to undersoil heating to prevent pitches being frozen is something 'we can all expect' and she hopes that work can continue towards that.
She has called on the WSL and the clubs in the league to come up with a way of making sure games can always go ahead.
'We've got pitch covers and heaters that are designed to prevent frozen pitches, so if they don't do that job, then we have to have another solution for that and that's not my job to do that,' she added.
'That's for the league and the clubs to work through the best solutions so we never cancel games.'
Hayes' side are currently second in the WSL, but they are level on points with league leaders Manchester United.
Chelsea return to league action against Spurs on February 5 after first playing the north London club in the FA WSL quarter-finals.
They will also be hosting Liverpool again but this time in the fourth round of the FA Women's Cup.
Klose2002
0
Equal. are u high or something. the Women's football league doesn't make money as the men's do . so they won't be able to pay u more than u are making now . So shut up and play
I see that u are blind
mancsupporter
0
I support equality, but it will never be in football because men’s football generate more money and will always
Jeecltuyz
1
Is it better to play and put the health and lives of your team at risk? or postpone the game to a better date with a favorable weather condition? Life is more precious than the game
surely, you can't read to comprehend 🤔
Kwocodile
0
some Liverpool fans are like Nunez..... they still fail to understand simple constructive sentence
Where is the simple constructive sentence? Ah here is one. Women game cancelled, they cheesed by decision from official to prevent more injuries and they stared crying. Simple enough for you to understand?
Kwocodile
0
I bet u are dumb enough to comprehend what she said
Well then enlighten me genius, what does the article say? Because it clearly states they want women's game to have equal opportunity and are complaining about game cancelled due to bad weather 6 minutes after kickoff. Btw one of the photo CLEARLY shows wound resulted by the "frozen" pitch.
Gwin014real
2
🫠so someone got injured due to pitch being frozen and the match shouldn't be abandoned so you can get fans despite the fact that no one watches WSL because the quality is way below the men's game. Is that what she is trying to say?
some Liverpool fans are like Nunez..... they still fail to understand simple constructive sentence
Gwin014real
2
Equal. are u high or something. the Women's football league doesn't make money as the men's do . so they won't be able to pay u more than u are making now . So shut up and play
I see you can't read and understand a simple comprehension
ClemJay
1
Is it better to play and put the health and lives of your team at risk? or postpone the game to a better date with a favorable weather condition? Life is more precious than the game
Klose2002
2
Equal. are u high or something. the Women's football league doesn't make money as the men's do . so they won't be able to pay u more than u are making now . So shut up and play
skilz5
2
Shes spot on
ZacharyB85
0
🫠so someone got injured due to pitch being frozen and the match shouldn't be abandoned so you can get fans despite the fact that no one watches WSL because the quality is way below the men's game. Is that what she is trying to say?
I bet u are dumb enough to comprehend what she said
Kwocodile
1
🫠so someone got injured due to pitch being frozen and the match shouldn't be abandoned so you can get fans despite the fact that no one watches WSL because the quality is way below the men's game. Is that what she is trying to say?