2023 WWC: England Manager reveals reason behind James’ stamp on Alozie

England manager Sarina Wiegman has come to the defense of Lauren James, shedding light on the controversial red card incident that left the Lionesses with 10 players for the entirety of extra-time.

The game was at a critical juncture when James was shown a straight red card for what the referee deemed as violent conduct, resulting in her dismissal from the match. Despite the setback, England rallied and ultimately secured a hard-fought 4-2 win in the penalty shootout.

Wiegman, in her post-match comments, dismissed any suggestion of malicious intent from the Chelsea forward. Instead, she attributed the unfortunate incident to tiredness, stating that the intensity of the match and the emotional rollercoaster led to a split-second lapse in control.

Highlighting James’ young age and inexperience, Wiegman emphasized that the incident was not premeditated, and the player had no intention of causing harm to anyone. She stressed that the pressures of the game, combined with physical fatigue, contributed to the momentary loss of control.

“It’s such an intense and emotional game that in a split second where you just don’t control your emotions, then things happen,” Wiegman explained, defending the young athlete’s actions.

The England manager further expressed sympathy for James, acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances and emphasizing that she would undoubtedly learn from the incident.