Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has received backlash for shoving Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, following an incident that she described as “male aggression”.
Chelsea and Arsenal were competing in the final of the Continental League Cup on Sunday (local time). It was a tight match the whole way through, ending in a 0-0 draw and sending the teams into extra time. Arsenal ultimately came out on top, winning 1-0 to take out the tournament.
However, it was an incident between the managers of the teams that sparked outrage online and beyond.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What started it?
Following the match, Hayes and Eidevall approached each other for a handshake, but footage from the moment shows Hayes allegedly shoving Eidevall instead.
According to both coaches, there was an altercation between Eidevall and Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert that may have sparked Hayes’ reaction.
In a post-match interview with Optus Sport, Eidevall explained that prior to the match, the two teams came to a decision to use only one ball; that is, if the ball is kicked out into the stands, for example, players must wait for that ball to be retrieved before the match continues.
“Before the game we had the discussion with the clubs if we were playing with one ball or multiple and we wanted to play with multiple, they wanted to play with one ball,” Eidevall explained.
“Then if the clubs can’t agree then you play with only one ball and then they wanted to take a quick throw-in with not the ball that was in play and I just reminded them of the rules that we had decided on before.
“Nothing more from me, I don’t think there was anything more to the situation.”
This is the moment that Eidevall talks about:
And in terms of fronting up to a player you can clearly see he's moaning about the multi ball use. It's the Chelsea player that steps up to him. Completely unnecessary from all but Emma Hayes just seems to have take the defeat badly.pic.twitter.com/ZpBEi65Rz7
— Liam Birks ⚽️ 🌎(Stoke) (@liam_birks) March 31, 2024
Women’s Agenda has contacted Erin Cuthbert for comment.
Hayes’ response
In a press conference after the game, Emma Hayes described the situation differently, citing Eidevall’s alleged use of “male aggression”.
“I think there’s a way to conduct yourself on the touchline, I really do. I think it’s absolutely essential that we role model in the right way,” Hayes told reporters.
“I’m not down for male aggression on the touch line, I’m really not, and fronting up to players, for me, that’s unacceptable.”
Hayes said she was disappointed in Eidevall’s behaviour and said she believes he should have received a yellow card (coaches and managers can receive yellow cards and be sent off from the field).
“I’m all for competing to win, I’ve never been booked in 12 years, my time here, I totally accept he’s a winner and wants to win but his behaviour on the touchline wasn’t acceptable,” Hayes said.
What’s being said?
It’s not the first time there has been an altercation between managers following a football match. In fact, there are a litany of moments where managers yell, argue, confront and even brawl with one another. Most – if not all – are altercations between male managers.
However, unlike these men, who very rarely go under the spotlight for aggressive behaviour, Emma Hayes has received significant backlash online for her incident.
On X, name calling directed at Hayes is rife: she has been labelled “reprehensible”, “delusional”, a “disgusting woman” and in darker corners of the internet, far worse.
But others, like British domestic abuse activist David Challen, have called out the “faux outrage” and double standards of the situation.
Lots of faux outrage/whataboutery from some men over Emma Hayes’ push, which is especially telling given countless male managers have done the same or worse to one another. Didn’t see you boys call for their sacking? Oh, sorry when men do it that’s ‘passion for the game’, duh. https://t.co/s6BClcCwQI pic.twitter.com/jK5Kv1acQ1
— David Challen (@David_Challen) April 1, 2024
“Same ‘ol story,” Challen wrote on the social media platform. “One set of rules for me, and another for women.”