London, UK – The Women’s Super League (WSL) has issued an apology following controversial comments made by social media influencer GK Barry during the Women’s League Cup quarter-final and semi-final draw. The draw, conducted live on WSL Football’s TikTok page, raised concerns over professionalism.

The draw featured GK Barry alongside Portsmouth midfielder Ella Rutherford, but several moments during the live stream drew criticism. Barry made a series of lewd jokes, including a remark about Tottenham Hotspur, which referenced a chant often sung by Arsenal supporters.

“While pulling out a ball with Tottenham’s name on it, Barry asked, ‘What do we think of Tottenham?’” BBC Sport reported.

WSL Football has confirmed it apologised to Tottenham, who are currently considering their response. The incident also included a mishap where Barry dropped a ball back into the draw bag and then retrieved it again. WSL stated that the draw would have been restarted if the ball had been different.

Concerns Over TikTok Format

Some clubs acknowledged the decision to host the draw on TikTok and involve personalities like Barry was intended to engage younger audiences. However, several sources expressed dissatisfaction with the balance between entertainment and professionalism.

“Sources at some clubs feel the intention to pitch to younger audiences was understandable, but the professionalism of the draw should remain paramount,” the report added.

WSL Football also explained that because the draw carried adverts and was streamed live on TikTok, it is not available on YouTube. This follows technical issues with a previous Women’s FA Cup third-round draw, where the YouTube stream was broadcast without sound, although the TNT Sports broadcast was unaffected.

Women’s League Cup Fixtures

The quarter-finals will take place from 19-21 December, with semi-finals scheduled for 21-22 January 2026. The fixtures are:

Quarter-finals:

• Liverpool vs Chelsea
• Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
• Manchester United vs Tottenham
• West Ham vs Manchester City

Semi-finals:

• Crystal Palace/Arsenal vs Manchester United/Tottenham
• West Ham/Manchester City vs Liverpool/Chelsea

WSL Football has confirmed all draws were conducted fairly, with an adjudicator present throughout the process.