Connect with us

Sports

WSL Clubs Furious After ‘Crude and Unprofessional’ Women’s League Cup Draw

Published

on


One club has asked WSL Football have to provide footage of Tuesday’s Women’s League Cup quarter-final and semi-final draw after the process – conducted by TikTok influencer GK Barry and her girlfriend, Portsmouth midfielder Ella Rutherford – has been labelled ‘crude and unprofessional’ by a number of Women’s Super League clubs.

Streamed live on TikTok, Barry was tasked with the job of drawing the balls and Rutherford, whose Portsmouth side had not progressed to this stage, then told viewers which side had been pulled out. But it quickly descended into chaos and, reportedly, there are many unhappy clubs.

Specifically, Tottenham Hotspur have been offered an apology and accepted that Barry’s comments regarding Spurs were inappropriate. While pulling out a ball with the club’s name on it, GK Barry asked: “What do we think of Tottenham?” – referring to an anti-Spurs chant sometimes sung by fans of Arsenal.

Greatest Players in WSL History


The 11 Greatest Footballers in Womens’ Super League History [Ranked]

In a world of Sam Kerrs, Vivianne Miedemas, and Bunny Shaws, who do GIVEMESPORT name as the greatest WSL player in the league’s history?

WSL Clubs ‘Furious’ Over Lack of Professionalism During League Cup Draw

arsenal wsl

In what was an attempt to appeal to a younger audience, it quickly backfired as it became clear Barry was not up to the job. The influencer kickstarted the draw by making a comment about “lesbians handling balls” before she smacked the bag holding the draw balls against her backside, adding: “Give it a shake, a spank for luck.”

She also finished with an innuendo about Subway’s footlong sandwiches. “Even if you’re a lesbian, get a footlong.” she said.

With an adjudicator present, the former I’m A Celebrity contestant also pulled a ball, which revealed one of the home sides in the first semi-final fixture, out of the bag before mistakenly putting it back in. “Am I allowed to do that? I’ve done it now, it’s too late,” she commented, only to pull it out again and say: “Oh I picked up the same ball.”

According to The Telegraph, it has been confirmed that it was the same ball that was pulled out by Barry. In the event that it was a different ball, the entire draw would have been redone.

BBC Sport have also confirmed that one of the clubs involved in the draw has requested to view the footage after being displeased with the process as, at the time of writing, it is not currently available to watch back on social media or WSL Football’s YouTube channel.

Fans Displeased with Women’s League Cup Draw Process

womens super league man city man utd

Fans, expectedly, have deemed the process ‘an insult’ to women’s football, with some even claiming that it’s practically unbelievable. “An insult to female footballers of all ages and their clubs,” one said, as another added: “This is diabolical. I can’t believe this is even real.”

“Genuinely p***** me off. Disrespectful and derogatory to a club with 40+ years of history in the women’s game. Not to mention unprofessional,” a third supporter added.

“I don’t think any post of this paints the WSL in a positive light. Appears biased, unprofessional, looking in the bag – and why do the draw in Subway?”

“After seeing this, I think the WSL have to do this draw again. She’s clearly looking in the bag and as for the bag slap and comments it’s just cringe,” a fifth fan added, before a final supporter concluded: “Wow…. I heard it was bad but this is so much worse than I imagined.”

Details of the Draw

Women's Super League badge

The draw saw reigning champions Chelsea, now managed by Sonia Bompastor, issued a trip to Liverpool while last season’s runners-up Manchester City will travel to the English capital to face West Ham United. The final WSL 2 side in the competition, Crystal Palace, will play host to Arsenal.

Marc Skinner’s Manchester United will play at home against Tottenham – and the winners of that quarter-final will lock horns with one of Palace or Arsenal.

Women’s League Cup Quarter and Semi-Final Draw

Quarter-Finals

Home side

Away side

Liverpool

Chelsea

Crystal Palace

Arsenal

Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham United

Manchester City

Semi-Finals

Crystal Palace/Arsenal

Manchester United/Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham United/Manchester City

Liverpool/Chelsea

Elsewhere, which team reigns supreme in the quarter-final between Liverpool and Chelsea will play the winners of West Ham v City. In terms of when supporters will be able to watch their respective teams in action, the quarter-final matches will be played over the weekend of December 19–21, while the semi-finals will be played on January 21–22.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Man Utd Ready to Sign Dusan Vlahovic on Free Transfer

Published

on

By


Manchester United want to add more firepower to their squad this summer, and they are ready to make a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, according to CaughtOffside.

Man United were the third-highest scorers in the Premier League this season, only scoring two fewer than champions Arsenal, but it appears as though club chiefs want to further boost the frontline next season, especially with the return of Champions League football to Old Trafford.

Much of the talk in recent weeks has been around the new midfielders the Red Devils could add to their squad, with up to three new faces expected to arrive in that position should Manuel Ugarte follow Casemiro through the exit door.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that only something ‘crazy’ will stop United completing a deal to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, while they continue to be linked with a host of other midfielders as they look to complete a major rebuild.

Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson is their top target, but a deal is unlikely because of Forest’s transfer fee demands and the fact that the player’s preference would be to join Manchester City instead.

Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes are among their other targets.

Man United Make Dusan Vlahovic Big-Name Target

Dusan Vlahovic sitting on the bench for Juventus

According to CaughtOffside, United are also ready to complete a ‘major attacking rebuild’ this summer, and they have five strikers on their radar ahead of the transfer window opening on June 15.

While Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen is the ‘dream’ target, they have also identified Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic as another big-name player on their shortlist.

Benjamin Sesko is currently leading the line at Old Trafford with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo playing back-up, but the club are said to want stronger depth and different profiles alongside the impressive Slovenian.

United are likely to look to replace Joshua Zirkzee in the squad, with the Netherlands international being linked with a move back to Serie A.

Dusan Vlahovic Faces Uncertain Summer

Dusan Vlahovic in action for Juventus

With his contract due to expire at the end of next month, Vlahovic is about to be one of the hottest free agents on the market.

CaughtOffside claim that should his exit from Juventus be confirmed in the coming weeks, then United won’t be alone in their pursuit of the Serbia international.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are also keen on the 26-year-old, who has scored 68 goals in 168 matches for Juve since joining them in 2022.

One of the potential hurdles to any deal for the big striker is his salary, with Vlahovic currently earning around £400,000-a-week at the Allianz Stadium.

He will need to reduce that wage significantly if he wants to secure a move to most clubs in Europe, including United, who are looking to offload more high earners this summer following the departure of Casemiro, with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford also on huge wages at Old Trafford.

Continue Reading

Sports

Arsenal Linked With Ideal Viktor Gokyeres Upgrade After PSG Loss

Published

on

By


It was the greatest week in Arsenal’s recent history, and one of the most painful at the same time.

Six days after ending a 22-year wait to lift the Premier League trophy once more, the Gunners were in Budapest for the Champions League final, leading Paris Saint Germain through Kai Havertz’s early opener.

Arsenal led for almost an hour before Ousmane Dembele’s penalty brought things level. The German’s opener turned out to be Arsenal’s only shot on target of the entire match, which went the distance before Gabriel’s missed penalty ensured the Champions League title went back to Paris.

For all the hurt of that night, however, Arteta is already turning his attention to the transfer window, and one performance in particular appears to have accelerated his thinking in the market.

Viktor Gyokeres’ Champions League Final Was One to Forget

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring

Viktor Gyokeres finished the 2025/26 season as Arsenal’s top scorer with 21 goals, and nobody can take that away from him. But goals alone don’t tell the whole story, and his display in Budapest after coming on for Martin Odegaard in the 66th minute, as a direct response to PSG’s equaliser, was deeply underwhelming.

The numbers, via SofaScore, make for uncomfortable reading. In his 54 minutes on the pitch, Gyokeres had 20 touches and lost the ball ten times – meaning he lost the ball every second touch. He also completed just six of his 12 passes and won only four of his 12 duels.

What Arsenal desperately needed in that final half an hour, and throughout extra time, was a striker capable of holding the ball up under pressure and relieving the siege PSG were laying on.

He provided almost none of that.

A deflected effort that fizzed wide late in extra-time was the extent of his attacking contribution. He did convert his penalty in the shoot-out, but by that point, the damage had already been done.

Bournemouth’s Kroupi Emerges as Target to Replace Viktor Gyokeres

AFC Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi celebrates
AFC Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi celebrates

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who was speaking soon after the final whistle, Arsenal are understood to be exploring alternatives in the striker position.

One name attracting serious attention is Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi. The young forward has already been linked and represents a very different profile to Gyokeres. He’s more technical, more comfortable in tight spaces, and better suited to the kind of intricate, possession-based football Arteta demands from his squad. At only 19-years-old, described as a ‘killer’, he scored just one less goal than the Swede in last season’s Premier League (13).

Gyokeres’ goals were crucial in delivering the title. But if Kroupi is indeed the man Arsenal are targeting, it suggests the club believe there’s a more complete option out there, one who can contribute when the goals aren’t flowing as well, and when the game needs winning in a different way.

Continue Reading

Sports

Liverpool Discussing Personal Terms to Make Diomande First Signing of Iraola

Published

on

By


Liverpool have made Andoni Iraola the clear favourite to be the club’s next manager following the shock dismissal of Arne Slot on Saturday, and they are already in talks over a potential big signing for the Spaniard.

Liverpool announced on Monday that they had sacked Slot following a disappointing season, which saw them finish 25 points adrift of champions Arsenal as they looked to defend the Premier League title they won in the Dutchman’s debut campaign in charge.

While they did secure Champions League qualification by finishing fifth, they conceded more goals (53) than in any other Premier League season in their history, with club chiefs deciding it was time for change.

It makes sense too with some big changes happening on the pitch, with the exits of Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah already confirmed, while it was announced on Sunday that Ibrahima Konate will be leaving Anfield when his contract expires at the end of next month.

Liverpool have decided they want to appoint Iraola as Slot’s successor, with formal talks expected to start this week.

The Spaniard led Bournemouth to an exceptional season in the English top flight, where they finished one place and three points behind the Merseyside club to secure qualification for the Europa League, all after losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January.

Liverpool Ahead in Race to Sign Yan Diomande

Yan Diomande

Liverpool have already decided they need to invest in their frontline this summer with Salah leaving the club, and RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande has emerged as one of their top winger targets.

According to Sport, some of the biggest clubs in Europe are interested in prising him away from the Bundesliga club this summer.

That includes Liverpool, who are considered to be ahead in the race for his signature, although Leipzig are said to be standing firm on their €100m (£87m) valuation of the exciting teenager.

According to Sport, the 19-year-old is leaning towards a switch to Anfield despite interest from other huge clubs like Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool In Talks With Diomande’s Agents Over Terms

Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast celebrate during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast

The report adds that Liverpool have already started negotiations with the player’s agents over personal terms for a move to the Premier League, and that his representatives have expressed the willingness for their client to join.

The Reds are said to have promised the Ivory Coast international a prominent role at Anfield following Salah’s exit, including a starting position he wouldn’t be guaranteed at PSG because of the quality options they have in that area of the pitch in Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, among others.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season with Leipzig, scoring 13 goals and providing a further 10 assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for the German club.

While the majority of his outings this term came from the right-hand side, where Salah lined up for Liverpool, he also made 10 appearances from the left too, to show his versatility.

Should he arrive at Anfield this summer, he would be competing with the likes of Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Rio Ngumoha for a spot in Iraola’s XI.

Continue Reading

Trending