Lauren James could likely miss the rest of the FIFA Women’s World Cup after she stamped on Nigeria’s defender, Michelle Alozie.
England Women’s team managed to seal a quarter-final spot with a dramatic 4-2 shootout win over the Super Falcons.
James, who plays for Chelsea Women, could potentially face a three-match ban for stepping on Michelle Alozie’s back.
Sarina Wiegman, Lionesses boss, said: “It’s a huge lesson to learn but it’s not something she has done on purpose. She is the sweetest person.”
“Look, that happens sometimes with human beings, they are in such a high intensity, emotional game, and in a split second she lost her emotions.”
“She apologized and she felt really, really bad. But she doesn’t want to hurt anyone.”
Lauren James, 21, has been England’s best player during the World Cup and one of the tournament’s standout youngsters.
She showed a brilliant performance in their group stage defeat of Denmark and 6-1 thumping of China where she netted a brace in the contest for the first time in her career.
However, FIFA disciplinary chiefs can decide to extend that to three, meaning she would miss the rest of the tournament.
Wiegman went on to add: “This was a moment, it was a split second. It was later in the game, so players also got a little tired.“
“She’s an inexperienced player on this stage and, yes, things happen like that.”
Losing Lauren James – whose red card was likewise that of David Beckham’s at the 1998 World Cup and Wayne Rooney in 2006 – means England will likely suffer for the rest of the tournament.
And this could be a blow to the European champions as they bid to win their first-ever global trophy.
The Lionesses of England are set to play Colombia in the last eight after Euros hero Chloe Kelly smashed home the winning spot-kick against Nigeria.
James Deactivates Comments Section On Social media
England star player and Chelsea women’s forward, Lauren James, deactivated the comments section on her Instagram and Twitter accounts after she was red carded against Nigeria.
Lauren James was shown a red card by Argentine referee Melissa Borjas, after she stamped Nigeria’s defender, Michelle Alozie.
The Chelsea player committed the foul in the 85th minute of the match and was initially given a yellow card by the referee for her offence.
The card was, however, changed to a red card after a Video Assistant Referee review of the incident.
James deactivated the comment sections on her previous posts on Twitter and Instagram immediately after the match with Nigeria.
Lauren James
Lauren Elizabeth James is an English footballer who was born on 29th September, 2001 and plays as a forward for Chelsea and the England women’s national team.
James was born in London and she is of Grenadian and Dominican descent through her father, and English descent through her mother.
Reece and Lauren James are the first brother and sister siblings to represent England at senior level in the modern era.
