Chelsea’s Women’s Super League match against Manchester United, originally scheduled for Oct. 6, has been postponed with just a week’s notice due to its proximity to the club’s first Champions League game.
UEFA revealed on Saturday that Chelsea would face Real Madrid at Kingsmeadow on Oct. 8, just two days after the WSL fixture.
The WSL issued a statement confirming the decision, citing concerns over player welfare as the reason for the postponement.
“We apologise for any inconvenience to fans. In this instance, we have to put player welfare first, and we will announce a new date for the fixture in due course,” the league said.
“We thank the clubs and Sky Sports for their understanding as we work on a resolution.”
Both Chelsea, the defending WSL champions, and Manchester United have won both of their opening two league games of their respective campaigns.
“It’s not ideal; however, in the best interests of the players for both Chelsea and Manchester United, it’s probably the right decision if it benefits their safety,” United manager Marc Skinner told a post-match news conference after his side’s 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday.
“It’s frustrating we don’t have a game at the weekend, but we can work around that.”
Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League in the semifinals last season, losing to the eventual champions, Barcelona.
In the final, Barcelona defeated Sonia Bompastor’s Lyon 2-0. Bompastor later succeeded Emma Hayes as Chelsea’s manager during the summer.