Women’s Super League: Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor calls for rule change over goalkeeper treatment

Bompastor, 45, had a stellar first year in charge of Chelsea, winning a domestic treble and going through the Women’s Super League season unbeaten.

This year has been more of a struggle, with the Blues nine points behind leaders Manchester City and facing a first season since 2018-19 without being crowned champions.

“We aim to always be front-footed and play with intensity,” she added. “Sometimes, as much as we want to do that, some things don’t allow us to.

“If a goalkeeper goes to ground, you have to tell every player to stay on the pitch and not allow them to talk to the coach. It should be simple.”

On Sunday, Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce went down with no-one around her in the 25th minute when her side trailed London City Lionesses and came under sustained pressure.

While she was attended to for about two minutes, many of the United players went to the sidelines for a drink and to receive instructions from the coaching staff

Inside three minutes later, Jess Park levelled the scores.

In fairness to United, their boss Marc Skinner has also suggested the practice needs to be addressed, saying previously: “From my perspective, I’d happily explore it because we regularly face it ourselves.”

Such incidences are common in the WSL – and Bompastor agreed with Slegers that they harm the appeal of the competition.

“We need to understand that fans are coming to watch us on the pitch,” she added. “They want to see a lot of rhythm, a lot of playing time as that is part of the entertainment as well.”

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has recognised the practice as a problem but has yet to agree a solution.