Chelsea shocked in opener once again: Lessons in defeat

More technology is needed in the Women’s Super League

If the WSL had used the tools the Premier League used, Kerr’s offside goal would have been overturned, and her frustrating day on the pitch could have looked a lot different. According to the Times, the WSL is going to be launching a VAR-light system at the start of the 2023/24 season, but the offside technology and number of cameras will not be of the same quality as the English top-flight. Despite the Blues possibly deserving to lose, or drop points against Liverpool, a blatant mistake that would be changed with the same technology in the men’s game just emphasizes the fact that the women’s game has a long way to go.

Kerr’s face after the flag went up said it all, as it was the second time in the span of just two minutes that offside was called, and Kerr had timed her run perfectly. No offside lines in the WSL are in the cards going forward, and if this game does not send a message to the league that it needs to change something, it needs to look itself in the mirror.

The increased competitiveness in the league this season is no doubt a step in the right direction for viewership, but when the decisions that are not made by the players and managers directly affect the result of the contest, the integrity of the game is compromised. Even in the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States, controversial calls throughout important contests have been the topic of discussion the entire season as the league heads into the postseason.