Liverpool Women manager Matt Beard says striker Olivia Smith is at risk of getting a “serious injury” unless more is done to protect her.
Beard said Liverpool have submitted clips to Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for referees in English football, and Rebecca Welch, the organisation’s manager of officials in the women’s game, to show how the 20-year-old Canada international has been targeted by opposition defenders.
Beard said the clips were submitted before the five-week winter break and that the club have not yet received a response.
“We sent clips to Rebecca Welch and the PGMOL to show the treatment [Smith] is getting,” Beard told media after Liverpool’s 2-1 Women’s Super League (WSL) victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday evening. “It’s becoming clear and obvious now. The last thing I want to happen is someone of Olivia’s talent to get a serious injury because she is not being protected by the officials.”
The PGMOL and WSL declined to comment when approached by
Smith, who joined Liverpool for a club-record fee of £210,000 from Sporting last summer, opened the scoring against Brighton with a sublime solo goal in the 31st minute but had to be substituted in the second half following a coming-together off the ball.
“Same as always, getting lumps kicked out of her. Hopefully retrospectively that will get looked at,” Beard said. “I said to Olivia she needed to take it as a compliment but there is only so much she can take. It is clear for everyone to see. It’s not just me.
“At some point she is probably going to get hurt if it’s not dealt with. It should be dealt with from the first tackle. We’re not back in the old days when Graeme Sounness played.
“They should be penalised. The rules are the rules. The one where she was blocked off is intentional. You have four officials that are there. Someone should see that. The supporters reaction tells you everything you need to know.”
Smith and Brighton defender Poppy Pattinson were involved in numerous confrontations throughout the match. Both players received bookings and shortly after the interval, were softly remonstrated by the referee over their conduct.
Beard has previously voiced concerns over Smith’s safety. Against Manchester City at Anfield, Smith was forced off at half-time due to a heavy knock to her back. Beard voiced displeasure at fouls committed by defender Millie Bright on Smith against Chelsea.
Asked about the fouls, Smith told media: “It definitely gets hard to not lose your head when that’s happening every single game, not just in a game like this. There’s talks also going on with the refs and stuff just to make sure there’s extra protection. But there’s only so much that I can do. So I’m trying to keep my cool as best as I can.”
Liverpool’s victory against Brighton ended a torrid four-match losing run in the WSL. Smith’s goal and an own goal from Jorelyn Carabalí in the 81st minute also ended a four-match goalless streak in the competition.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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