Chelsea vs Arsenal Women’s Super League Match Delayed Due to Kit Clash

On Friday night, Chelsea faced Arsenal in the Women’s Super League.

Match start was set for 20.00. But then the teams did not come into play.

Shortly before the appointed time, the kick-off was postponed. The “Gunners” had then had their match kit denied by the referees.

“Tonight’s kick-off has been delayed indefinitely due to a venue issue,” Arsenal wrote on X.

The problem? The Arsenal players first came out in white socks for the warm-up. It was discovered late and was not approved by the referees, as it clashes with Chelsea’s home kit (which also has white sock colours). Action was required.

When the “Gunners” players jogged out onto an almost packed Stamford Bridge just over 20 minutes later, they were wearing black socks.

“This is embarrassing. Ridiculous,” wrote X icon Ian Wright.

Former national team player Karen Carney did not hold back in the Sky Sports broadcast:

– We have waited so long to only let’s talk about football on the women’s side. This is obviously human error, but it’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing for the players and I’m frustrated. It’s a massive crowd here today and it’s a massive game, Carney said, continuing:

– It’s a simple thing: a match kit – and it went wrong. People make mistakes but the sport (women’s football) doesn’t need mistakes like this and it’s frustrating. It does not look good. Arsenal have been magnificent off the pitch this year. They’ve led the way in terms of audience, audience numbers, marketing – but this is a mistake on their part.

At 8:30 p.m., half an hour after the scheduled time, the match kicked off well. Chelsea then took the opportunity to push with their London rival:

“Ready to work our socks off”, wrote Chelsea on X.

And the gang from west London worked their socks off. Chelsea won the meeting 3-1.

Swedes Nathalie Björn, Amanda Ilestedt and Lina Hurtig missed the derby. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd played from the start for Chelsea while Zecira Musovic took her place on the bench. Stina Blackstenius started on top at Arsenal.