A sideline dispute during the English Women’s League Cup final on Sunday escalated into a postmatch shove and complaints of “male aggression” from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.
Hayes was upset by Arsenal‘s Jonas Eidevall’s heated exchange with Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert when she went to make a throw-in during extra time.
Eidevall said afterward the dispute centered on a pregame decision to use only one ball during the match instead of multiple ones. A delay in getting the ball ready for a throw-in cost Chelsea valuable time in a match it would ultimately lose 1-0.
“I’ve been in women’s football a long time and I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today,” Hayes said afterward. “He (Eidevall) received a yellow card but perhaps should have been more.”
Hayes, who will assume USWNT duties once the Arsenal season ends, emphasized her displeasure in the postgame handshake line by giving Eidevall a visible shove.
Emma Hayes pushing and shoving Jonas Eidevall at FT in the Women’s League Cup final.
Hayes: “I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today.”
Eidevall: “To be honest I can’t really take it seriously [being called an ‘aggressor’].”pic.twitter.com/WsX1Ucjfuh
— ⚽⚽⚽ (@ElijahKyama_) April 1, 2024
Eidevall denied his behavior was overly…
