England manager, Sarina Wiegman, has claimed that Lauren James’ reckless stamp on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie was due to tiredness rather than malice.
James was shown a straight red card for violent conduct during the Lioness’ narrow last-16 victory.
This meant Wiegman’s team was reduced to 10 players for the entirety of extra-time, before winning 4-2 on penalties.
Wiegman has defended the Chelsea forward and says it was a “very unfortunate” incident.
“She’s young and this is just a split second, she doesn’t want to harm anyone. It’s later on in the game, so you get a little bit tired too.
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“It’s such an intense and emotional game that in a split second where you just don’t control your emotions, then things happen.
“Of course, she didn’t want to do that, but before she’d even realised it had happened. Very unfortunate. She will absolutely learn from it,” Wiegman said.
James had lit up the tournament with her performances in the group, but was marked out of the game by a very impressive Nigeria until her moment of madness – which was only punished with a yellow card by the referee before the VAR review.
BBC commentator Vicki Sparks said there were “shades of David Beckham against Argentina” in the foul.
Star England midfielder Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone during the last 16 of the 1998 men’s World Cup. In the aftermath, Beckham was the subject of heavy criticism, received death threats and had an effigy hung outside a pub.
Beckham has said in the past that he is thankful social media did not exist at the time.
“Social media is, I think, the devil,” said James’ England team-mate Jess Carter after England reached the quarter-finals in Brisbane. “I think she’s got enough experience around her, enough people around her to help her and be there for her through everything.”
Chelsea forward James, 21, will now miss the quarter-final against either Colombia or Jamaica. Fifa can also opt to extend her ban if it sees fit, and the addition of two extra games would mean her tournament is over no matter how far England go.
