Lauren James LIMITED comments on her Instagram account amid fears of backlash after England’s World Cup sent forward for stomping on her opponent
Lauren James has limited comments on her Instagram account to stem the backlash after her broadcast of the Women’s World Cup.
The Chelsea star stomped on the back of Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie shortly before the end of regulation time in the last-16 clash and was dismissed following a VAR assessment.
It left Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses down to just 10 players through extra time, but in the end James’ moment of madness cost England nothing as they won 4-2 on penalties.
It was soon noticed that James, 21, had restricted who could post comments on her Instagram account, which has 568,000 followers.
The assailant was clearly expecting a flurry of abusive comments following the incident of violent behavior.
England’s Lauren James has been sent off for stamping on the lower back of her Nigerian opponent Michelle Alozie during the Women’s World Cup final.
The incident happened three minutes before the end of normal time, leaving the Lionesses to negotiate 30 minutes of extra time one player short before winning on penalties
James subsequently limited comments on her Instagram account, which has 568,000 followers
James had been outstanding for England in the group stage of the tournament, scoring three times, but the punch could easily have led to elimination.
James and Alozie clashed in the 87th minute with the scores at 0-0, but Nigeria were the better side.
Both players were on the floor, and as James climbed to her feet, she stood on Alozie’s lower back.
Referee Melissa Borjas initially only showed James a yellow card, but VAR intervened and replays revealed the foul was more serious than first thought.
Borjas, who had been watching replays down the field, raised the yellow card to a red card, informing the crowd that it was violent conduct.
The Lionesses survived a 30-minute period of extra time before they could muster their courage to win the shoot-out and kick off a last-eight duel with either Colombia or Jamaica.
Wiegman said the assailant had apologised, but she “had no intention of hurting anyone.”
Referee Melissa Borjas had initially given James a yellow card before consulting with VAR
Despite falling to 10, England took victory on a penalty shootout
Sarina Wiegman has admitted that James has a “huge lesson to learn” after the mistake
‘I spoke to her. I actually said (to her), ‘look, that happens to people sometimes’, that they’re in such intense play and such intense, emotional play, and in a split second she lost her emotions.
“Of course she apologized and she felt really, really bad. She definitely doesn’t want to hurt anyone.
“This was a moment, it was a split second, it was later in the game, so players are getting a bit tired too. She is an inexperienced performer on this stage and she has done very well.
“I think she lost her emotions in a split second. Of course she doesn’t want to hurt anyone, she’s the sweetest person I know.
“Things happen like this, you can’t change it anymore, it’s a huge lesson to learn, but of course it’s not something she did on purpose.”