Chelsea and Manchester United’s WSL postponement at week’s notice branded ‘absolute failure’

Women’s Super League and Uefa failed to reach an agreement over a scheduling conflict to the dismay of fans

A Women’s Super League (WSL) game between Chelsea and Manchester United has been postponed at a week’s notice, with fans branding the decision an “absolute failure”.
Chelsea were scheduled to host United at Kingsmeadow in a WSL tie on Sunday, October 6. However, following the release of the Women’s Champions League group-stage fixtures, the WSL match has been moved.
The Champions League draw was made on Friday and the match calendar confirmed on Saturday, with Chelsea scheduled to host Real Madrid on Tuesday, October 8 – just two days after the United match.
Chelsea said it had “raised its concerns regarding player welfare with the relevant parties”.
According to a statement from the club, numerous discussions failed to find a solution to the scheduling conflict between the WSL and Uefa. 
Chelsea said they were “left with no other option than to confirm the postponement of next weekend’s WSL fixture”, and added: “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”.
The Chelsea Women Supporters Group branded the decision an “absolute failure by the league” via the social media platform X and added: “The club has to protect the players. We feel for all the supporters who have lost money on transport and hotels. As we said yesterday it shouldn’t ever get to this situation.”
The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), the new entity that runs the WSL, also released a statement in apology, and said they “had to put player welfare first” and “will announce a new date for the fixture in due course”.
The WSL match between Chelsea and United had been selected for live broadcast by Sky Sports more than a month earlier. The WPLL finished their statement by thanking Sky Sports for their understanding.