The Nigerian footballer stamped on by England’s Lauren James during the Women’s World Cup has forgiven the under-hire Lioness and asked that she is shown ‘respect’.

Disaster struck in the 87th minute of yesterday’s last 16 tie in Brisbane yesterday when striker James, 21, stamped on the back of fallen defender Michelle Alozie – although England did eventually make it through on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

James got a yellow card, which became a red after a review. She will receive at least a one-game ban, but could get three – meaning she would miss an England final.

Gary Lineker said it had been ‘a Beckhamesque moment of madness’, referring to David Beckham’s infamous 1998 World Cup scuffle with Argentina’s Diego Simeone.

But 26-year-old Alozie graciously tweeted today that she understood why James acted as she did during the pressured environment of a World Cup knockout game.

She said: ‘Abeg, rest. We are playing on the world’s stage. This game is one of passion, insurmountable emotions, and moments. All respect for Lauren James.’

Alozie also posted a follow-up message saying it was ‘still a red though’ – and then a picture of her smiling as James stood on her back, captioning it ‘life.’

England star Lauren James (top) was sent off for stamping on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie (bottom) during the closing stages of normal time in the World Cup last-16 encounter

England star Lauren James (top) was sent off for stamping on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie (bottom) during the closing stages of normal time in the World Cup last-16 encounter

England star Lauren James (top) was sent off for stamping on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie (bottom) during the closing stages of normal time in the World Cup last-16 encounter

Alozie tweeted a picture of the incident and captioned it 'life' after Nigeria's World Cup exit

Alozie tweeted a picture of the incident and captioned it 'life' after Nigeria's World Cup exit

Alozie tweeted a picture of the incident and captioned it ‘life’ after Nigeria’s World Cup exit

She also called for James to be shown 'respect' following her moment of madness

She also called for James to be shown 'respect' following her moment of madness

She also called for James to be shown ‘respect’ following her moment of madness 

Lauren James - seen in Sydney Airport today - faces an anxious wait over whether her World Cup dream is over with FIFA yet to make a decision on the length of her suspension

Lauren James - seen in Sydney Airport today - faces an anxious wait over whether her World Cup dream is over with FIFA yet to make a decision on the length of her suspension

Lauren James – seen in Sydney Airport today – faces an anxious wait over whether her World Cup dream is over with FIFA yet to make a decision on the length of her suspension

Speaking after England won the penalty shoot-out 4-2, having clung on through extra time with 10 players, Alozie said there were ‘no hard feelings.’

‘It was good for us. James is a really good player and nullifying her was really big for us,’ she said.

‘We didn’t want her to move freely and get those shots off that she usually does. It was good for us to have her taken out of the game.

‘I was a little bit surprised by her reaction to the tackle. I don’t think it was really needed.

‘I’m fine, my butt is fine from her stepping on it! I was kind of confused initially. I didn’t understand what was going on at first. There’s no hard feelings, it’s just a game.’

England will play Colombia in the quarter-finals this Saturday and James will be suspended for that match at least as Fifa’s disciplinary committee meet to decide whether to extend the ban to three matches.

That would see her miss the rest of the tournament if the Lionesses reach their first-ever final.

Lauren James will miss one match but her ban is likely to be increased to three games

Lauren James will miss one match but her ban is likely to be increased to three games

Lauren James will miss one match but her ban is likely to be increased to three games

James' hot-headed actions led to her being sent off after a VAR review by the referee

James' hot-headed actions led to her being sent off after a VAR review by the referee

James’ hot-headed actions led to her being sent off after a VAR review by the referee

James is pictured walking off the pitch after being given a red card for fouling the Nigerian player

James is pictured walking off the pitch after being given a red card for fouling the Nigerian player

James is pictured walking off the pitch after being given a red card for fouling the Nigerian player 

James restricted comments on her Instagram account to avoid a backlash in the aftermath of the sending off, with team-mate Lucy Bronze revealing she went straight into the dressing room to console her after the shoot-out win. 

Bronze said: ‘Obviously she’s going to be disappointed in herself. I went straight off the pitch after the game to make sure she was OK.

‘Obviously she was a little bit upset and rightfully so and more than anything she just feels bad for the team. I said to her, ‘We’ve made it through. It’s a team, it’s not just one player.”

James is the younger sister of Chelsea and England defender Reece James, and said before the tournament that she hoped to use the World Cup to carve out an identity separate from her sibling, whose name is regularly mentioned in tandem with hers but rarely, if ever, vice versa.

She had begun to do so in stunning style before she was sent off in the 87th minute of Monday night’s match-up, scoring the only goal in England’s 1-0 group stage victory over Denmark before netting two and picking up three assists in the Lionesses’ 6-1 win over China, in the process becoming the only England player of either gender to contribute to five goals in a single World Cup contest.

Lucy Bronze headed straight off the pitch after England's win to console the 'upset' James

Lucy Bronze headed straight off the pitch after England's win to console the 'upset' James

Lucy Bronze headed straight off the pitch after England’s win to console the ‘upset’ James

England won on penalties to reach the last eight despite playing extra time a player short

England won on penalties to reach the last eight despite playing extra time a player short

England won on penalties to reach the last eight despite playing extra time a player short

Former England striker Gary Lineker described it as a 'moment of madness'

Former England striker Gary Lineker described it as a 'moment of madness'

Former England striker Gary Lineker described it as a ‘moment of madness’

England coach Sarina Wiegman said James will learn a ‘huge lesson’ from her moment of madness. 

‘I’ve spoken to her. I actually said [to her], ‘look, that happens sometimes with human beings,’ that they are in such an intense game and such a high-intensity, emotional game, and in a split second she lost her emotions.

‘Of course she apologised and she felt really, really bad. Absolutely she doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

‘This was a moment, it was a split second, it was later in the game, so players also get a little tired, she’s an inexperienced player on this stage and she’s done really well.

‘I think in a split second she just lost her emotions. Of course she doesn’t want to hurt anyone, she’s the sweetest person I know. Things happen like that, you can’t change it any more, it’s a huge lesson to learn but of course it’s not something she’s done on purpose.’

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