Chelsea’s Women’s Super League clash with Liverpool was sensationally abandoned after just six minutes of play in farcical scenes that brought embarrassment to the women’s game on Sunday.
Referee Neil Hair stopped the match at Kingsmeadow due to concerns from both captains after seven instances of players falling over in the frosty conditions.
Chelsea had put covers and heaters on their pitch before kick-off, with leaf-blowers removing ice from the turf. A pitch inspection had taken place at 9.30am, with both managers claiming the official had told them the conditions were not playable before changing his decision an hour later.
The Moroccan international, who was signed for €40m (£33m), is said to not be on the best of terms with manager Thomas Tuchel and he could be sold this summer. Fans on Twitter are divided on whether the Blues should cash in on the player:
It is believed that Milan have already ruled out making a bid to sign Ziyech on a permanent basis, and a loan move is unlikely to be of interest to the Blues, who need to raise funds in order to secure their top transfer targets.
Napoli have also been linked with a move for the 28-year-old in recent days, so that could still be an avenue worth exploring, but, as things stand, it seems more likely that the Moroccan will be staying at Stamford Bridge.
You could see from the opening minutes that it was like an ice rink down the sides,’ said Chelsea boss Emma Hayes.
‘The game should never have started. Everyone wanted to get the game on but when you have got emotions of teams wanting or not wanting to play, that’s when you need a decision from above. The FA weren’t here – they need to be making the decision.’
Liverpool managing director Russ Fraser had written to the FA before kick-off while captain Niamh Fahey and manager Matt Beard had also voiced concerns over the safety of the pitch.
