Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said Kadeisha Buchanan's red card in the semi-final defeat to Barcelona was “the worst decision in the history of the Women's Champions League”.
Chelsea lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate, with Buchanan sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Hayes said she thought her team “lost” the decision by referee Juliana Demetrescu, who conceded the penalty.
Buchanan's second booking came just before the hour mark against a challenge to Patri Guhijaro.
“I didn't think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card,” Hayes said.
Chelsea were down 1-0 in the first half thanks to Aitana Bommatti's goal, but a red card leveled the score on aggregate and leveled the score.
Fridolina Rolfo's spot-kick in the 75th minute sealed Barcelona's place in the final on May 25th.
Hayes said that having reduced the number of players to 10 changed the flow of the game in Barcelona's favor.
“I truly believe we were at the top of our game,” she said. She said: “It just hit the post so I could feel the momentum going in that direction but I didn’t have a chance to experience it.
“It takes everything to go our way. They got two yellow cards, a deflection and a penalty. Everything went our way, but tonight everything didn't go our way.”
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was in operation, but can only be used to confirm red cards, not yellows.
Chelsea manager criticized Buchanan's decision to send him off, calling it “horrible”.
Hayes added: “I was standing there and I looked at the fourth official and said, 'Are you sure it's going to be checked?' and she said it couldn't be checked with a yellow card.” Ta.
“The toughest thing is that we didn't lose. There's nothing you can do when such a bad decision is made and the situation is already difficult enough. They are a top team, and when that is taken out of your hands, it's tough. That's true for the players. ”
Failure to reach the final would mean that Hayes, who will take over as US manager at the end of the season, would leave Chelsea having won every trophy except the Champions League.
