Chelsea Women's WSL clash with Liverpool was abandoned just six minutes into the start of play after referee Paul Howard adjudged the state of the pitch was putting players' safety in jeopardy.
The match, held at the Blues' home ground Kingsmeadow, had already been subject to a pitch inspection at 9:30am due to concern of a frozen ground. But the decision was made to see the game go ahead, with blowers and pitch tents used in attempt to hasten the defrosting process despite referees calling the surface "unplayable", according to Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.
Yet shortly after kick-off, the decision was made to call off the fixture due to the obvious danger posed to the players.
READ MORE: Tottenham Women's Super League clash with Leicester City postponed due to frozen pitch
From the opening minutes, the dire state of the pitch was on full display as players slipped on the icy surface. Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert was through on goal early on but fell dangerously onto the turf, banging her knee abruptly in the process. Niamh Charles fared similarily as she sprinted forward on the break with the ball at her feet.
Frustration was audible from the supporters, coaches and players alike as the decision was announced. Hayes approached the home fans to acknowledge their consternation but continued to emphasise the importance of protecting the players.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Hope Powell, who was on punditry duty pitchside for the BBC, called the decision not to call off the match before kick-off "embarrassing" and "shameful", citing the unfair treatment to travelling fans, while also raising the question of how such decisions reflect poorly upon the women's game. Sunday's abandonment reignites the conversation around the quality of facilities afforded the top flight of the women's game as well as the subsidies required to do so.
"It is very embarrassing, it is a shame for the travelling fans," Powell said. "They should have cancelled it before, the pitch was hard and I was dubious it would go ahead. But to start the game and then realise five minutes in it was dangerous to many players, is very embarrassing, it is not a good look."
Hayes echoed Powell's sentiments, slamming the fact top-flight women's teams do not have undersoil heating and other adequate measures to combat freezing temperatures unavoidable in UK winters, adding that if the women's game is going to be taken seriously, more needs to be done to ensure top-quality facilities are available.
"We've made progress with investment into the quality of grasses and surfaces across the league," Hayes told BBC Two. "No game at the top level of the women's game should be cancelled. We need undersoil heating - we don't live in Barbados."
Chelsea's clash is the second match in the WSL to fall victim to an unplayable surface this weekend, with Tottenham Hotspur's home clash at Brisbane Road against relegation-threatened Leicester City on Sunday called off on Saturday due to a frozen pitch, marking the second time this season Spurs have had to abandon a match because of surface conditions.
Meanwhile, Everton's 1:00pm fixture against West Ham on Sunday was pushed back an hour in order to allow ample time for the pitch to thaw and avoid postponement.
The FA were not in attendance at Chelsea's match on Sunday and Hayes voiced her disproval at their absence, stating that it was not the responsibility of the head coaches to make such decisions with potentially deep repercussions on the league table.
"You could see from the opening minutes that it was like an ice rink down the sides," Hayes continued. "Matt Beard was upset that it even got to point and he's right. It's not for managers to decide if it's on - it's up to the FA and officials. We have to say to ourselves that it's time for undersoil heating. We've got to take our game seriously. Yes, we can have our blowers and pitch tents but it's not enough."
Chelsea currently sit top with a three-point lead, though title-chasers Manchester United and Arsenal both tout a game in hand.
Win a pair of tickets to the Premier League or Women's Super League match of your choosing! Enter HERE
READ NEXT:
- Chelsea secure signing of highly-rated Japanese teenager who lit up Under-20s World Cup
- Chelsea Women cannot repeat Liverpool blip as WSL title race remains wide open
- Chelsea and Arsenal Women's FA Cup opponents confirmed as fourth round draw made
Beth England scores on debut in Villa loss but Tottenham fall to fifth consecutive WSL defeat
