At the Women's World CupEngland's journey to the next stage has been overshadowed by a red card shown to Chelsea's Lauren James during the Round of 16 match against Nigeria, prompting the Football Association (FA) to announce an appeal to FIFA. Meanwhile, in the club soccer sphere, Arsenal's aggressive transfer activities are making headlines as they reportedly submitted a bid for Barcelona star Fati, showing the team's ambitious plans for next season.
FA to appeal to FIFA
The FA has announced its intention to appeal to FIFA after Chelsea's Lauren James received a red card during England's round of 16 match against Nigeria at the Women's World Cup. This appeal is highly significant as the red card resulted in James' automatic one-match suspension, which could be extended by FIFA's disciplinary process.
The incident occurred during the final minutes of a hotly contested second half, where James and Nigerian striker Michelle Alozie tangled. James was accused of striking Alozie, which led to her ejection from the match. The referee, after a thorough VAR analysis that showed James' studs made contact with Alozie's back, had no hesitation in issuing the red card, reducing England to 10 players.
The FA has since released a carefully worded statement expressing James' deep regret and remorse for his actions. The statement read in part, "This incident is totally out of character for Lauren, who is filled with remorse. We will support her throughout this process and will file representation on her behalf. We fully respect FIFA's disciplinary process and will await their decision."
England are now awaiting the length of James' suspension, handed down by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. An earlier precedent in the tournament was set when Nigeria's Deborah Abiodun received a three-match suspension after being sent off in a group stage match. A similar ruling for James would effectively end her tournament, leaving fans and teammates disappointed.
Earlier in the day, James had taken to Twitter to vow to "learn" from his sending off, reacting to a post by Alozie where he appeared to forgive the Chelsea player. James wrote: "All my love and respect to you. I'm sorry for what happened. Playing with and for you (England) is my greatest honor, and I promise to learn from my experience."
Despite the setback, England secured their place in the next stage of the tournament, advancing after a thrilling 4-2 victory on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time. Chloe Kelly, the European champions' heroine, smashed home the vital penalty. Without James, England prepare to face Colombia in Sydney for the quarter-finals on Saturday, fighting for a place in the last eight.
Lauren James is shown a red card. pic.twitter.com/m9RywPHwPi
- Caity Foord 🏴 (@caitcaitfoord) August 7, 2023
Arsenal's bid for Barcelona star makes waves
Arsenal's transfer activities are making waves in the soccer world. The club, freshly buoyed by their Community Shield victory over Manchester City, have tabled a bid for Barcelona superstar Ansu Fati. The bid follows the successful acquisitions of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, clearly showing Arsenal's intent for next season.
Barcelona, although initially rejecting the proposal, could be influenced to reconsider due to its financial constraints. Arsenal's determined effort to secure the deal demonstrates a clear strategy to strengthen its attacking options. Fati's versatility to play on either wing aligns perfectly with Arsenal's tactical needs.
In addition to Fati, Arsenal are also exploring the acquisition of Brentford goalkeeper David Raya to improve their goalkeeping options. These moves reflect a new ambition for Arsenal under manager Mikel Arteta, focusing on building a competitive squad that can fight for top honors. The transfer window continues to be an area of great interest for Arsenal fans, with the club's actions signaling a positive direction and a willingness to invest in a brighter future.
