The Football Association have rallied behind Lauren James in hope that the Chelsea ahead will someway swerve a three-match ban for her stamp on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie. The 21-year-old sensation is assured to overlook no less than one match however the ban may very well be prolonged to 3 for violent conduct given the severity of her dismissal.

However, the FA intend to rally round James forward of FIFA's disciplinary course of because the Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman nervously await news on their key participant.

An FA spokesman mentioned: "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.

"We will likely be supporting Lauren all through and will likely be placing ahead illustration on her behalf. We absolutely respect FIFA's disciplinary course of and won't be making any additional remark till after any determination has been made."

If James was to receive a three-match ban, it would mean she would have kicked her final ball at the tournament even if England made it to the final.

She was giving her marching orders in the final minutes of England's intense penalty-shootout victory over Nigeria on Monday in which the Lionesses played all of extra-time with 10 players.

James has since apologised to her team-mates and England supporters ahead of the quarter-final clash against Colombia.

"All my love and respect to you. I'm sorry for what occurred," she said on social media to opponent Alozie.

"Also, for our England followers and my team-mates, taking part in with and for you is my biggest honour and I promise to study from my expertise."

Wiegman said of the incident: "It was a second of a split-second and it was later within the recreation so gamers additionally get somewhat drained. She is an inexperienced participant on this stage and has carried out rather well.

"And I think, in a split-second, she just lost her emotions. And, of course, she does not want to hurt anyone. She is the sweetest person I know.

"Yet then issues occur like that and you can't change it any extra. So it's a enormous lesson for her to study, however it isn't one thing that she actually did on objective.

"It happens sometimes with human beings - that you are in such an intense game, such an emotional game and, in a split-second, she lost her emotions.

"She apologised and he or she felt actually, actually unhealthy and completely she doesn't need to harm anybody."

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England's case has not been helped by the actual fact Nigeria's Deborah Abiodun was hit with a three-match ban initially of the match.

The no-nonsense disciplinary course of suggests there may be little room for sympathy.

Whatever occurs, England will know they'll cope with adversity after their gruelling final 16 victory over Nigeria.

They held their nerve with out James to win 4-2 on penalties following an energy-sapping effort over the course of 120 minutes.