Portsmouth Women's player caught up in concerns surrounding Women's League Cup draw thanks to partner GK Barry
Pompey Women’s player Ella Rutherford was asked to help conduct the Women’s League Cup draw alongside partner GK Barry
A Pompey Women’s player has been caught up in the controversary surrounding Tuesday night’s Women’s League Cup quarter-final and semi-final draw.
Blues forward Ella Rutherford joined partner and social media influencer GK Barry in conducting the draw, which was broadcast on the WSL’s TikTok page.
But concerns over the professionalism and legitimacy of the event have been raised following podcaster Barry’s conduct.
During the draw, the former I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star made a series of lewd jokes and a comment about Spurs.
Barry - who was responsible for pulling the balls out of the bag while Rutherford revealed the teams drawn - also lifted a ball out, dropped it back in by accident, and then took it back out again to be used as part of the draw.
It’s understood an adjudicator was present to confirm that Barry retrieved the same ball she had initially picked out. Had she not, the draw would have to had to be restarted.
The behaviour of Rutherford - who joined Pompey Women from Ipswich Town in the summer on a one-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months - has not been questioned.
Yet her partner’s conduct has forced the WSL to apologise to Spurs, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, the draw is not currently unavailable to watch on social media or WSL Football's YouTube channel.
Barry’s involvement was designed to boost the competition’s appeal to a younger audience. But from the headlines her appearance has generated, that tactic looks to have backfired.
Pompey’s name wasn’t in the hat for the quarter-final and semi-final draw having failed to progress from the group stage. Yet the Blues’ involvement in the competition ended on a positive note after they beat top-flight side West Ham 2-0 at Westleigh Park on Sunday.
Rutherford featured for 64 minutes in the win.
For your next Pompey read: Portsmouth owner Michael Eisner declares Premier League ambition - and addresses January transfer plans