'Absolutely shocking' - White questions Uefa priorities after postponement

Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Ellen White said "it is shocking that subordinate use is not Uefa's priority" aft Women's Champions League scheduling led to Chelsea's Women's Super League lucifer against Manchester United being postponed.

The lucifer was called disconnected pinch little than a week's announcement because of a conflict pinch nan Blues' European schedule.

Sonia Bompastor's broadside were scheduled to play United astatine Kingsmeadow astatine 12:30 BST connected Sunday 6 October, earlier hosting Real Madrid astatine Stamford Bridge 48 hours later.

Before Friday's Champions League draw, nan the Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) - nan caller institution which now runs nan WSL - had requested that nary English squad beryllium scheduled to play connected 8 October, but were unsuccessful.

Uefa defended nan scheduling and said its lucifer almanac was made disposable to clubs much than 1 twelvemonth agone and that fixture principles person been "clearly communicated".

"This is perfectly shocking from Uefa," White told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast.

"The group shape tie was only made connected 27 September truthful I don't really understand really anybody would cognize nan crippled they would beryllium playing aliases erstwhile that crippled would person been.

"The forefront is subordinate use and 48 hours is not agelong capable for a squad to move astir playing connected a Sunday to past person to play astatine an elite level successful nan Women's Champions League. It is shocking that subordinate use is not Uefa's privilege and they are not budging connected it."

For nan first time, location are 3 English clubs competing successful nan Women’s Champions League group stages, pinch Arsenal and Manchester City joining Chelsea.

Uefa regulations authorities clubs from nan aforesaid nationalist personnel associations cannot look each different successful nan group stage, while nan 2 highest seeds must play connected replacement evenings.

"It makes nary consciousness to maine why they couldn't budge," White added. "I cognize we person 3 English teams successful nan Champions League and they won't let each 3 to play connected nan aforesaid night. It's conscionable very confusing."

Arsenal and City's WSL fixtures are taking spot arsenic planned connected Sunday, pinch them some successful Champions League action connected Wednesday.

Similar issues person been raised successful nan men's game, pinch players and coaches speaking retired astir fixture congestion.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri - who precocious suffered an anterior cruciate ligament wounded - says players are adjacent to going connected strike successful protestation astatine an summation successful games.

Arsenal's Jurrien Timber said this week that nan existent fixture schedule is "dangerous" and is simply a "big topic" successful nan dressing room.

"If you look astatine men’s shot and Man City for example, they had 51 hours betwixt playing Arsenal and past playing Watford successful a cup game," White said.

"They put retired 2 different teams essentially. We don't person those resources successful women's football. This is nan Women's Champions League and you person to beryllium putting retired your champion team.

"You person smaller squads and it's a really tight turnaround and in installments to them for saying this is not OK, we are not having this."