Lauren James receives red card for stepping on Michelle Azuli's buttocks

Posted : 08 August 2023

In a rather bizarre turn of events, English football star Lauren James found herself in a peculiar situation where she unintentionally stepped on Nigerian player Michelle Azuli's buttocks, resulting in a red card that left many reminiscent of a similar incident involving a legendary midfielder back in 1998. The reigning European champions managed to navigate through the subsequent drama without her, but the entire kingdom is grappling with astonishment, with reactions ranging from "absolute madness" to disbelief.

Just a week prior, the 21-year-old James had propelled England, the reigning European champions and a major contender for the Women's World Cup, to a resounding 6-1 triumph over China with two goals and three assists. Her prowess had garnered widespread recognition and dominated headlines. Her performance even led her brother to declare that she was "better than many Premier League players."

Anticipation was high for James' performance in the Round of 16 match against Nigeria, but the outcome was drastically different. England survived an intense match, ultimately securing their progression to the next stage with a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout (following a goalless draw in 120 minutes). Yet, James nearly marred the celebrations for the European champions.

In the 87th minute, upon seeing Nigeria's Michelle Eluzzi on the ground next to her, James inexplicably stepped on her. It was an inexplicable and bewildering moment. Initially cautioned with a yellow card by the referee, the decision was later changed to a direct red following a VAR review. Consequently, James left her team with 10 players for the nerve-wracking penalty shootout. One can only imagine what James herself would have felt had England been eliminated from the World Cup. However, her action ignited fervent discussions across the UK, perhaps even more than England's victory over Nigeria.

Former England star Ellen White described it as something "unthinkable." BBC commentator Vicki Sparks expressed disbelief, noting that such an action was beyond comprehension for a professional player.

England's coach Sarina Wighman defended James, attributing the incident to her momentarily losing her composure. Wighman acknowledged that the match was reaching its conclusion, and fatigue was setting in among the players. She pointed out that James, although inexperienced in such high-pressure situations, had performed admirably throughout the tournament. Gary Lineker, former England star and esteemed commentator, summed up the incident as a "bizarre moment of madness."

Lineker's words couldn't help but bring to mind the notorious episode involving David Beckham in 1998. During the Round of 16 match against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup, Beckham, like James, engaged in a remarkably unwise action. While lying on the field, he lifted his leg, and Diego Simeone (a future football coach who had never expected to be part of such a scenario) collided with it. Simeone added theatricality to the situation, leading to Beckham's red card and England's eventual exit from the World Cup.

Reflecting on the incident, Azuli, akin to Simeone's reaction at the time, commented that even a yellow card would have been sufficient. She humorously mentioned, "My rear end is fine, but it really was unnecessary. Initially, I couldn't comprehend what was happening, but in the end, it's just a game of football."

Interestingly, David Beckham himself has mentioned over the years that he is grateful that social media was not prevalent during that period, referring to the infamous match. James' teammate Jess Carter shared a similar sentiment, acknowledging the potential pitfalls of social media and humorously advising James to avoid checking her phone.

Unfortunately for James, her red card means she will miss the quarterfinal match against either Colombia or Jamaica. There's a possibility that FIFA might extend her suspension, and the prospect remains that the tournament journey for this prominent star could be cut short due to a single impulsive act.

Lauren James receives red card for stepping on Michelle Azuli's buttocks

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