Manchester United were well represented at the Women’s FA Cup final, but co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was not in attendance at Wembley.
There was disappointment for Manchester United at Wembley after suffering a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup final.
A strong Chelsea side completed an incredible unbeaten domestic treble as Sandy Baltimore scored twice and Catarina Macario found the back of the net to ensure they won their first FA Cup since 2023, when they beat the Red Devils 1-0.
United had a confident start to the game, but Chelsea gradually grew into the game before they opened the scoring just before half-time. Celin Bizet was penalised for a coming together with Erin Cuthbert in the box. Baltimore stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot.
While United battled to keep the deficit to one and find a way back into the game, but they eventually became tired and Chelsea took advantage when Macario sent a free-kick past Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
In stoppage time, Baltimore made it 3-0 to seal the win for Chelsea.
Marc Skinner quizzed on Sir Jim Ratcliffe missing FA Cup final
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe missed the club’s appearance in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley for a second consecutive year.
Chelsea’s co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali were at Wembley and were joined by special Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian, who bought a minority stake in the club last week.
Although Ratcliffe was unable to make the final, several senior figures ensured United were well represented at Wembley to support the women’s team.
There was no such fixture clash this weekend and Ratcliffe was spotted following United’s first team at Stamford Bridge on Friday.
Manchester United Women’s team manager Marc Skinner was quizzed about the whereabouts of Ratcliffe.
“In all honesty, I don’t know why he wasn’t here,” Skinner told reporters on Sunday. “But I feel we were well represented. [CEO] Omar [Berrada] was here, the Glazer family, [Technical Director] Jason [Wilcox] is up there.
“Those are the people I deal with every day. That’s the people I need to be here, because they need to be able to look at what we need to do to close a growing gap in finance that Chelsea have created.
“The reality is that it’s the investment in the team that needs to happen. It’s not whether you’re visible. I get you the representation, the visibility is how you see investment, but as long as I play the team are being invested in, that is also a way of showing your support for the team.”
Skinner was also asked if he was expecting an explanation for Ratcliffe’s absence.
“I would never get that explanation, I’m here to work with the team but reality is I felt we were well supported from the club.”
Women’s FA Cup final just shy of new world record
With 74,412 fans attending the 2025 FA Cup final at Wembley, it falls short of beating the previous set which was set two years ago.
The 77,390 record attendance watched Chelsea beat United 1-0 in the Women’s 2023 FA Cup final.
A total of 76,082 watched last season’s final when United beat Tottenham to lift the cup.
All three finals that United have featured in have had attendances north of 74,000.
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