Staff Reporter.
England forward Lauren James received a two-match ban from Fifa on Thursday for the stamp on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie that earned her a red card in the Women’s World Cup last 16.
The 21-year-old Chelsea attacker was sent off in the 87th minute of Monday’s match in Brisbane, which European champions England went on to win on penalties.
James apologised on Tuesday to Alozie over the incident, tweeting: “All my love and respect to you… I am sorry for what happened.”
Separately, the England team released a statement of their own saying: “Lauren is really sorry for her actions which led to the red card and is full of remorse.
“It is wholly out of character for her.”
The Lionesses will be without James for their quarter-final against Colombia on Saturday.
She will be watching from the sidelines due to the ban, but will remain hopeful her team-mates can carry on without her and make it to the final.