England head coach Sarina Wiegman has said she respects the punishment that forward Lauren James has received following a two-match ban handed to her at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup.
James was given a red card for stamping on Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie in the Round of 16 tie earlier this week, which England won via penalties.
The offence carried an automatic one-match ban and could have been extended to three games, but James has received a two-match suspension, meaning she could still appear in the final if England get there.
England will face Colombia in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
“That is the decision that is made; of course, that is not up to me,” Wiegman told a press conference on Friday.
“It is two games; that is a fact for us, and we respect that punishment. We take it from here and just hope we get through.”