ENGLAND star Lauren James was sent off for deliberately STAMPING on a Nigeria player.
James – the sister of Chelsea and England ace Reece – was given her marching orders in the dying moments of normal time after a VAR review.
With scores level at 0-0, James, 21, ended up on top of Nigeria striker Michelle Alozie after a tussle for the ball.
But she lost her head and appeared to deliberately tread down on Alozie’s back.
The referee didn’t initially spot the incident.
But after being informed of the violent conduct by VAR, she didn’t hesitate to send James for an early shower.
Lionesses fans couldn’t believe their eyes and flocked to Twitter to express their dismay.
And some likened the incident to Wayne Rooney’s red card against Portugal, which he received for stamping on former Chelsea star Ricardo Carvalho, followed by Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous wink at the 2006 World Cup.
One tweeted: “It’s Wayne Rooney all over again LOL.”
Another said: “Lauren James with a Wayne Rooney moment!!
Most read in Football
DREAM TEAM IS LIVE – JOIN NOW TO BATTLE FOR THE £50k TOP PRIZE
And another said: “Lauren James with her Wayne Rooney 2006 moment!
“Will this cost them the tournament?”
One remarked: “Lauren James going flll Wayne Rooney World Cup 06 there.”
Another chimed in: “Lauren James, absolutely livid.
“That is worse, considerably worse, than Beckham or Rooney.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker likened James’ dismissal to David Beckham’s moment of madness against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.
He tweeted: “The @Lionesses down to 10 as Lauren James has a Beckhamesque moment of madness.”
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Boss Sarina Wiegmann was quick to defend James, calling her the “sweetest person I know”.
The Swede said: “It was a moment of a split second. It was later in the game so players get tired.
“She’s inexperienced on this stage and had done well but she lost her emotions.
“She doesn’t want to hurt anyone. She’s the sweetest person I know.
“Things happen like that and you can’t change it anymore.
“It’s a huge lesson to learn but it’s not something she really did on purpose.
“I’ve spoken to her. I just said, ‘That happens sometimes with human beings’.
“You’re in such an intense game, such an emotional game and in a split second she lost her emotions.
“Of course, she apologised and feels really, really bad. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone.”
She doesn’t want to hurt anyone. She’s the sweetest person I know.
Sarina Wiegmann on Lauren James
England managed to ride the storm with 10 players until 90 minutes were up, and kept it goalless throughout extra-time.
And, fortunately for James, the Lionesses held their nerve in a penalty shootout to progress 4-2 on spot-kicks.
Chloe Kelly was the hero again as she fired in the winner.
James had arguably been the star of the tournament for England until her moment of madness.
The attacker, who like her brother plays for Chelsea, has three goals and three assists so far Down Under despite not starting the opener against Haiti.
She scored a stunning volley against China, which saw ex-Blues star Michy Batshuayi admit she was a better finisher than him.
But England will now have to survive without James for at least one game, with a quarter-final against either Colombia or Jamaica on Saturday morning.
Read More on The Sun
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
