WSL Issue Apology to Club After ‘Inappropriate’ Comment Heard During Cup Draw

The Women's Super League has been forced to apologise to a club after an 'inappropriate' comment was heard during Tuesday's League Cup draw.

The draw for the competition's quarter-finals and semi-finals was hosted by influencer GK Barry and her girlfriend, Portsmouth midfielder Ella Rutherford.

But questions have since been raised about the legitimacy of the draw, which was broadcast live on TikTok.

GK Barry pulled a ball out of the bag before accidentally putting it back in and then drawing it out again.

During that moment of confusion, she said: “Am I allowed to do that? I’ve done it now, it’s too late. Oh, I picked up the same ball.”

Returning a ball to the bag goes against the competition's regulations, which led some supporters to believe that the draw may have been invalid and would therefore need to be repeated.

According to The Times, an adjudicator provided by WSL Football confirmed that Barry had drawn out the same ball for a second time.

If a different number had been pulled out, then the entire draw would have been restarted.

Despite that clarification, at least one WSL club is understood to have requested access to the original footage.

The WSL has also apologised to Tottenham Hotspur following a separate incident.

When GK Barry pulled out the ball with Spurs' name on it, she said: "What do we think of Tottenham?"

The typical response to the anti-Spurs chant is to say: "S**t."

GK Barry also opened the draw by giving the bag "a spank for luck" and later joked about "lesbians handling balls."

Those comments contributed to wider concerns about the professionalism of the draw.

SPORTbible has contacted the WSL for comment.

Champions League clubs do not enter the League Cup until the quarter-final stage, something which many believe has limited the competition's popularity.

Last year's final at Pride Park attracted just 14,187 spectators, as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 2-1.

GK Barry is a popular social media influencer and she hosts her own podcast called Saving Grace.

She also became a panellist on Loose Women in 2024, the same year she appeared on I'm a Celeb.

She conducted the draw alongside her partner Ella Rutherford, who currently plays for Portsmouth.

The couple began dating last year.

Quarter-Final Draw

Liverpool v Chelsea

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham United v Manchester City

Possible Semi-Final Matches

Crystal Palace/Arsenal v Manchester United/Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham United/Manchester City v Liverpool/Chelsea