'The worst decision in Women's Champions League history' - Emma Hayes fumes at Kadeisha Buchanan red card as Barcelona beat Chelsea to UWCL final spot

The Blues lost 2-1 on aggregate in Saturday's semi-final with Buchanan's dismissal just before the hour a key moment. The defender had already been booked for a clear foul on Salma Paralluelo but her challenge on Patri Guijarro four minutes later was soft and possibly not even a foul. However, the referee saw it otherwise and sent her off in a decision that changed the game.

The score was 1-1 on aggregate at that point, Aitana Bonmati's great first-half goal cancelling out Erin Cuthbert's in Catalunya last week. With the numerical advantage that Buchanan's red card gave them, Barca were then able to go ahead in the tie for the first time, and the manner in which they achieved that was controversial, too.

Bonmati was judged to have been fouled by Ashley Lawrence in the box, which Hayes described as "soft", and Fridolina Rolfo converted from the spot with 15 minutes to go, deciding the tie and sealing Barca's place in the final.

“I didn’t think it was a foul let alone a yellow card," Hayes said of Buchanan's sending off. "We didn't feel like we had the opportunity to lose the game. That was taken away. I was surprised when this referee was selected for the game. She's famous for easy cards. It's the worst decision in UEFA Women's Champions League history. I'm gutted for the players. We were robbed. We'd just hit the post. We could feel the momentum but didn't have the chance to experience that."

Despite enjoying incredible success in their time together, Chelsea and Hayes have never won the UWCL and this felt like a real opportunity to end that wait, after the win in Barcelona. However, it was not meant to be. Hayes will leave the club at the end of the season to take charge of the United States women's national team and she'll do so with unfinished business in the Champions League.

The Blues need to lick their wounds and bounce back quickly, because they are back in action on Wednesday night against Liverpool in the Women's Super League. That is the only title still on the table for Chelsea and Hayes before they part ways and three points are needed to go back level with Manchester City at the top of the standings.