Instead of the usual on-pitch excitement fans wait for, this week’s biggest talking point came from an unexpected source — the League Cup draw.
What was supposed to be a simple, well-organised event turned into the kind of chaos you’d expect from a comedy sketch, leaving several WSL clubs fuming and seriously considering what steps to take next.
Concerns Sparked by a Chaotic Livestream
The quarter-final and semi-final draw for the Subway League Cup happened on TikTok, hosted by influencer GK Barry alongside her girlfriend, footballer Ella Rutherford of Portsmouth.
From the start, the mood leaned more towards entertainment than professionalism — and not in a good way.
The real drama unfolded when a ball was accidentally dropped back into the bag mid-draw, causing instant doubt about whether everything was above board.
Barry, who pulled out the ball marked with Tottenham’s number, awkwardly asked the camera if what she did was allowed before admitting she’d grabbed the same ball again.
Fortunately, an adjudicator overseeing the process confirmed it was indeed the same ball.
Without that confirmation, the entire draw would have had to be redone from scratch.
Clubs Demand Access to the Footage
To make matters worse, the livestream was the only place the draw was shown, and the recording isn’t currently available.
Several clubs have now asked for access to the footage so they can review what happened for themselves.
Their concerns go beyond the ball mishap — they also question the general conduct and quality of the broadcast.
Unprofessional Moments Overshadow the Event
A major sticking point was Barry’s playful dig at Tottenham, echoing a popular anti-Spurs chant used by Arsenal fans.
Daily Mail Sport reports that WSL Football has since apologised directly to Tottenham Hotspur for the comment.
The livestream also featured a series of crude jokes that many viewers felt were out of place.
Barry made comments about her body, joked about “lesbians handling balls,” and even slapped the draw bag against her backside “for luck.”
Viewers also struggled to follow along because there was no on-screen graphic showing who was facing who.
When someone asked for one, Barry joked about needing a bigger budget.
A Misfire in Targeting a Younger Audience
Insiders believe the whole format was an attempt to appeal to a younger, TikTok-savvy crowd.
While no one disputes the need to attract new fans, the general sentiment is that the execution fell far short of basic expectations for a professional competition.
Final Matchups Revealed Despite the Chaos
When the dust settled, the draw produced the following fixtures:
- Liverpool vs Chelsea
- West Ham United vs Manchester City
- Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Crystal Palace (WSL 2) vs Arsenal
For the semi-finals, the winners of Liverpool vs Chelsea will play the winners of West Ham vs City, while the winners of United vs Tottenham will face the winners of Palace vs Arsenal.
What Comes Next?
Right now, several clubs are weighing possible actions, including formally challenging aspects of the draw or demanding stricter guidelines for future broadcasts.
There’s also pressure on WSL Football to ensure that the next draw — whenever and wherever it is held — avoids theatrics and sticks to the professional standards teams and fans expect.
If you’d like, I can also turn this into a headline set or prepare 10 long, detailed news title options in your preferred style.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn