Littlejohn Abuse 'disgusting And A Disgrace' - Ward

Republic of Ireland head Carla Ward says maltreatment directed towards midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn has been "disgusting" and a "disgrace".

Littlejohn was sent disconnected successful Crystal Palace's League Cup triumph complete Leicester City connected Sunday aft an altercation pinch Hannah Cain.

The 35-year-old appeared to drawback Cain by nan cervix and nan players fell to nan crushed successful a second-half flashpoint.

The Football Association has said it's modular three-match prohibition for convulsive behaviour was "clearly insufficient" and it tin activity an extended reward if a lawsuit is "truly exceptional".

Speaking up of nan Republic of Ireland's behind-closed-doors friends pinch Hungary successful Spain connected Saturday, Ward said "the outpouring of abuse" directed towards Littlejohn connected societal media "has been a disgrace".

"She is simply a quality being. She's someone's girl and sister. It's not okay," said Ward, who besides managed Littlejohn astatine Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

"I look astatine Ruesha and it's not conscionable because I've sewage a long-standing narration pinch her - immoderate of nan worldly I've seen this week has been disgusting."

In a passionate consequence to nan effect of maltreatment connected societal media, Ward referenced really she had mislaid 2 adjacent friends successful nan women's game.

Ward had managed nan precocious Maddy Cuscak astatine Sheffield United, who passed distant aged 27 successful 2023, and knew erstwhile Liverpool head Matt Beard, who tragically took his ain life successful September.

"When do we study that battering group doesn't extremity well? At what constituent do we commencement learning?" Ward added.

"I was adjacent to Maddy, and we mislaid Maddy. I was adjacent to Beardy and we mislaid him. I'm sick of seeing it. I'm sick of seeing hurls of maltreatment astatine people."

Ward added that societal media is getting "worse and worse", and she did not cognize really nan problem could beryllium rectified.

"I conscionable dream that erstwhile my girl grows up it disappears. I deliberation it is simply a vile place," she added.

"I don't know, organisations request to thief and societal media [companies] request to do better. Do I deliberation it's going away? No, I deliberation it's only going to get worse."

Littlejohn, who was speaking alongside Ward successful nan property conference, said she "regretted" nan incident pinch Wales world Cain, and that her emotions overspilled connected nan pitch.

The midfielder had until Thursday to respond to nan FA's complaint of convulsive behaviour and is group to observe nan result of nan disciplinary proceeding successful nan coming days.

"Obviously I regret letting my emotions spill complete connected nan pitch. I'm rather an affectional personification and player," she said.

"That's not who I want to beryllium connected nan pitch, truthful I will study from it and move forward.

"Obviously I've been moving pinch my squad and hopefully it's each dealt pinch decently and it's reasonably dealt with, but I can't opportunity excessively overmuch connected that correct now. I don't want to harm nan process."

Littlejohn added that she was thankful to caput connected world work aft nan crippled and has done her champion to debar societal media and commentary surrounding nan incident.

"I'm surrounded by bully group here," she added. "They person helped maine done a reliable week and it's bully to beryllium backmost successful greenish pinch nan girls.

"I've had a batch of support. I've had a beardown group of group down me, truthful it's been bully that a batch of them person checked successful pinch me. That's been bully and I've conscionable stayed disconnected societal media.

"It tin beryllium difficult because it's coming heavy and fast. But I'm a beardown character, a beardown personification and I'm surrounded by a beardown team, truthful we'll beryllium okay."

Ward added that Littlejohn is personification she has "admired" successful their clip moving together and is "someone who wears her bosom connected her sleeve".

"She has acknowledged it was a infinitesimal that she profoundly regrets," said Ward.

"Look, we're not talking astir defending nan incident here. We're talking astir what follows and we request to do much to protect players.

"They are quality beings and they request looking after."