WSL round-up: Chelsea boss bemoans frozen pitch

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes insisted "we've got to take our game seriously" after their Women’s Super League clash at home to Liverpool was abandoned after just six minutes due to a frozen pitch.

Hayes said the lunchtime match at Kingsmeadow "should never have started" as she called for undersoil heating to be installed at WSL stadiums.

There was a pitch inspection three hours before the scheduled 12.30 kick-off and heaters were deployed in an attempt to make the surface playable, but referee Neil Hair, having consulted with Hayes and Liverpool manager Matt Beard, took the two teams off shortly after the match began.

After addressing the fans a clearly frustrated Hayes told the BBC: "You could see from the opening minutes that it was like an ice rink down the sides.

"It’s not for managers to decide if it’s on – it’s up to the FA and officials. We have to say to ourselves that it’s time for undersoil heating.

"We’ve got to take our game seriously. Yes, we can have our blowers and little pitch tents, but it’s not going to be enough.

"The game should never have started. Everyone wanted to get the game on but when you have got emotions of teams wanting or not wanting to play, that’s when you need a decision from above.

"The FA weren’t here – they need to be making the decision."

A WSL spokesperson said: "We worked hard with the clubs and the match officials to safely play the Barclay’s Women’s Super League fixture between Chelsea and Liverpool as scheduled. Following inspections before the match, the pitch was deemed to be playable by the matchday referee.

"However, shortly after kick-off, the referee made the decision to abandon the match in order to protect the safety of the players, which is paramount. We sincerely apologise to all