Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall expressed his disapproval of Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’ comment about “male aggression” during an altercation between the two managers at the Women’s League Cup final, where Arsenal won 1-0.
Hayes had pushed away Eidevall at the end of the match and later stated, “I am not down for male aggression on the touchline. I told him this.” Eidevall found Hayes’ label uncomfortable and clarified that the disagreement stemmed from differing preferences regarding the multi-ball system when the ball went out.
Arsenal preferred a one-ball system, while Chelsea wanted multiple balls for quick play. Eidevall mentioned a brief confrontation with Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert during the game, which was related to this disagreement.
Eidevall received a yellow card for the incident, but Hayes believed he deserved a red card instead. At the end of the match, when Eidevall approached Hayes, they initially shook hands, but then Hayes pushed him away, expressing her dissatisfaction with his behavior.
She emphasized the importance of proper conduct on the touchline and stated that while she understands Eidevall’s competitive nature, his actions were unacceptable. Hayes highlighted a specific incident involving Eidevall and Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert as particularly unacceptable.
She acknowledged that this wasn’t the first time Eidevall had been addressed about his behavior but hoped they could discuss it calmly later. Hayes downplayed the incident’s significance, stating that it shouldn’t be blown out of proportion.
When asked about Emma Hayes’ remarks, Eidevall downplayed their significance, stating he didn’t view it as a major issue. He refuted being labeled as aggressive and criticized Hayes for doing so, emphasizing the importance of proper conduct in the technical area, whether winning or losing. Eidevall expressed satisfaction with his own behavior and suggested others should reflect on theirs.
Earlier in the season, Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor accused Eidevall of “bullying” a fourth official, to which Eidevall responded by expressing disappointment and considering the comments borderline slander.
Former player Anita Asante, who played under Eidevall, acknowledged his intensity and motivation on the sidelines, attributing it to his desire to push and motivate players. She highlighted that such intensity is a part of both managers’ personalities and characters and can occasionally spill over in their pursuit of victory.
