Lionesses star Lauren James is suspended for TWO matches but could return to the Women’s World Cup final after receiving a red card for a stamp on Michelle Alozie in England’s win over Nigeria

Lauren James has had her suspension extended to two games following her red card for a punch against Nigeria.

James was one of the breakaway stars of the tournament and a key part of Sarina Weigman’s team until a moment of madness led to her being sent off in the last 16 clash.

The 21-year-old stepped on Michelle Alozie’s back as the Nigerian player was on the ground following a challenge in the 87th minute of Monday’s game – which scraped England through on penalties.

After consulting with VAR, James was shown a red card after originally being booked. Typically, red card offenses would lead to a one match suspension, but FIFA has the capacity to extend the suspension if they see fit.

And the governing body’s disciplinary committee exercised that right, ruling that the violent behavior was worth an extra game.

FIFA typically issues a three-match ban for violent conduct, but James has escaped punishment

James, who disabled comments on her Instagram profile after the incident, is in sensational shape for the Lionesses.

After three games, she was involved in the most goals of any player at a World Cup – and she didn’t even start the first game.

Her two goals and three assists in China’s 6-1 defeat saw her become the first English player, male or female, to be involved in five goals in a match at a World Cup.

And the praise poured in, with her Chelsea manager Emma Hayes saying: ‘We are witnessing brilliance.’

Her father compared her to Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, but the winger’s excellence will no longer light up the tournament after her bloodstream to the head.

Fortunately, her teammates dug in to reach penalties against Nigeria before securing a 4-2 victory.

After the game, Weigman said, “I talked to her. I actually said (to her), “look, that happens to people sometimes,” that they’re in such an intense game and such an intense, emotional game, 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.”

And the stamp victim, Alozie, wrote on Twitter, “Abeg, rest. We play on the world stage.

‘This game is one of passion, insurmountable emotions and moments. All due respect to Lauren James.’

It’s a brutal lesson learned for James, who follows in the footsteps of David Beckham, who was infamously sent off for a petulant kick-out against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, and Wayne Rooney, who saw red for a punch on Cristiano Ronaldo. in 2006.