Fifa has imposed a two-match suspension on England’s forward, Lauren James, due to her red card during the Women’s World Cup match against Nigeria.
At 21 years old, James was shown a red card for stamping on Michelle Alozie’s back during the last 16-tie, a match that concluded with England prevailing in a penalty shootout.
Initially, the red card triggered an automatic one-game ban. However, Fifa has opted to extend the ban’s duration, implying that if England progresses to the semi-final, James will be ineligible to participate.
In the quarter-finals scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 BST, the Lionesses are set to face Colombia. During the group stages, James, who has been England’s top scorer in the tournament, showcased her prowess by scoring three goals and providing three assists.
In response to the incident, Lauren James took to social media to offer her apologies to Michelle Alozie and expressed her dedication to learning from the lapse in judgment. Sarina Wiegman, England’s manager, acknowledged James’ relative inexperience on such a significant stage and attributed the action to a fleeting emotional reaction. Wiegman reassured that the action wasn’t deliberate and characterized James as an individual with a genuinely compassionate nature, who would never intend to cause harm.
Should the Lionesses be eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday, the suspension handed to Lauren James will extend to England’s subsequent international fixture.
