2023 Copa Catalunya Femenina Explained

The 2023 edition of the Copa Catalunya Femenina was played between June and September 2023, as part of the 2023–24 season of Spanish women's football. It was organised by the Catalan Football Federation, and was the second (and currently last) time it was run as an exclusively amateur competition. SE AEM won the title for the first time, with their B team, having made it to the semi-finals in both 2018 and 2019.

Format

The format was that of an unequal two-sided knockout bracket as a single-elimination tournament. Eighteen teams entered, with five matches on one side of the first round draw and four on the other. The winners of one of the matches on the larger side had a bye past the second round; still with an odd number of teams, an intermittent third round was held for the team with a bye to play one of the second round winners from the larger side of the draw. The winners of this match, and the three other second round winners, directly entered the semi-finals.[1] Prize money for the winning team was €4,400 and the three other semi-finalists received €1,100. In the elimination rounds, €165 was awarded to match-winning teams, and the same amount was given to the away team of each fixture for expenses.[2]

Winning in the second round should have seen teams compete in the semi-finals,[1] however, due to a number of circumstances, none of the second round winners played in a semi-final match.

First round

First round matches were all played on 18 June 2023.

Second round

Second round matches were played on 21 and 22 June 2023.[3] Due to the odd number of teams that progressed from the first round, Igualada had a bye for the second round.[3]

The round was alternatively described as the quarter-finals plus a round of 16 game (the Can Parellada–Santa Susanna match) that would lead to a quarter-final against Igualada.[4]

Third round

One match was played in the third round, for Igualada (who had come through the second round on a bye) to earn their progression against a team that had won in the second round.[3]

Final stages

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were set to be played on 27 August 2023.

Defending champions Sant Gabriel had defeated Palautordera in the second round to advance to the semi-final, but in August 2023 the entire team left the club and denounced its treatment of the women's team.[5] Palautordera took Sant Gabriel's place in the semi-finals. Igualada, having come through their third round tie, played the lower-division Palautordera.[6]

Due to the withdrawal of Women's Soccer School, SE AEM (B) had a bye and progressed to the final.[7]

Final

In their team photo before the final, Igualada players covered the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) logos on their shirt sleeves in protest against the RFEF. SE AEM (B) did not wear RFEF logos on their shirts.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Definit el quadre de la Copa Catalunya Amateur femenina. 13 June 2023. Catalan. FCF.
  2. Web site: Participar a la Copa Catalunya té premi. 21 June 2023. FCF. Catalan.
  3. Web site: Resultats de la segona eliminatòria de la Copa Catalunya Amateur femenina. 23 June 2023. Catalan. FCF.
  4. Web site: 2023-06-18. El Femení supera el Pardinyes i accedeix als quarts de la Copa Catalunya. 2024-11-30. FC Martinenc. ca.
  5. Web site: Villegas. Ana. 2023-08-30. ¡Todas las jugadoras del femenino del CE Sant Gabriel dejan el club de golpe!. 2024-11-30. Sport. es.
  6. Web site: 2023-08-25. El CF Igualada femení, il·lusionat per poder guanyar diumenge al camp del Palautordera (19.15 h) i classificar-se per a la final de la Copa Catalunya Amateur. 2024-11-30. Ràdio Igualada. ca.
  7. Web site: El CF Igualada guanya l'AE Santa Susanna en la tercera eliminatòria de la Copa Catalunya Amateur Femenina. 21 August 2023. Catalan. FCF.
  8. Web site: Final de la Copa Catalunya femenina amateur CF Igualada - AEM Lleida B. Regió7. Biel. Jordi. 2 September 2023.