Emma Hayes calls for 'player protection' after Sam Kerr is booked for shoving pitch invader in Juventus draw

Chelsea Women 0 Juventus Femminile 0

Sam Kerr was shown a yellow card after pushing over a pitch invader in a bizarre ending to a goalless draw against Juventus, as Chelsea missed their chance to secure qualification for the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.

Emma Hayes’ side dominated, in search of a late winning goal after being held by the dogged and tenacious Italian side, before the pitch invader entered the field in an apparent attempt to take selfies with Chelsea’s star players. He was quickly floored by Australia’s Kerr, and the home fans booed Swedish referee Sara Persson's decision to book the striker for her efforts.

“He could have waited until the end for a photograph if he really wanted one. But jokes aside, we do have to think about player safety," said Hayes. "We've seen in the growth of the game there is this sense of the players being more in demand. It should serve as a reminder to us all in our stadiums and with our stewards we've got to put player protection first.”

The goalless draw saw Chelsea miss the chance to clinch their spot in the knockout stages with a game to spare, after spurning a hatful of chances amid almost entirely one-way traffic. They will now have to avoid defeat away at German side Wolfsburg next Thursday to be sure of going through. Nonetheless, Chelsea remain three points clear at the top of Group A and in pole position to qualify.

Playing just three days after completing last season’s domestic treble with victory over Arsenal in the 2020-21 Women’s FA Cup final, Chelsea were resuming their bid to claim the only major trophy that eluded them last term - the European title.

"We're in the driving seat [to qualify] going into the last game in the position we want to be in," Hayes added. "I thought we looked a little tired but I think that's to be expected. I think we had the toughest group - to be sitting at the top of the group right now, I’m really happy about that."

Hayes made just two changes from the side that comprehensively beat Arsenal 3-0 at Wembley on Sunday. Chelsea mounted attack after attack on Juventus' penalty area in the first half, and saw efforts bounce off the crossbar twice. Former Arsenal shot-stopper Peyraud-Magnin did superbly to tip Millie Bright’s long-range strike away from the top corner, and Kerr saw a goal disallowed for offside after the break.

The Women’s Serie A leaders - managed by former Arsenal head coach Joe Montemurro - appeared to set themselves up in search of a point, which keeps them above third-placed Wolfsburg in the group, after the German side beat Swiss outfit Servette 3-0 earlier on Wednesday. Montemurro was delighted with his side's efforts and the Australian said, "It’s amazing. We were just happy to be in the group stages, and use this year as a learning [experience]. I’m waiting to see the headlines tomorrow: the ‘Italian job’."

Match details

Chelsea Women (3-4-3): Berger; Bright, Carter, Eriksson; Cuthbert, Ingle, Ji (Leupolz, 80), Reiten; Harder (England, 70), Kerr, Kirby.
Substitutes not used: Musovic (gk), Telford (gk), Nouwen, Fleming, Charles, Spence, Andersson, Fox.
Booked: Berger, Kerr.
Juventus Femminile (4-3-3): Peyraud-Magnin; Lundorf, Lenzini, Salvai, Boattin; Rosucci, Pedersen, Zamanian (Caruso, 63); Bonansea (Nilden, 90+3), Girelli (Staskova, 73), Hurtig (Bonfantini, 73).
Substitutes not used: Aprile (gk), Hyyrynen, Gama, Giai, Arcangeli, Beccari, Pfattner.
Booked: Peyraud-Magnin, Bonansea.
Referee: Sara Persson (Sweden).