Crystal Palace midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn has received an extended five-match ban for violent conduct. The Republic of Ireland international was disciplined for grabbing Leicester’s Hannah Cain by the neck and throwing her to the ground during a League Cup match on November 23. The Football Association sought a longer suspension, finding the standard punishment inadequate.
Littlejohn expressed regret for “letting my emotions spill over on the pitch,” vowing to learn from the incident. Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward also highlighted the “disgusting” abuse Littlejohn faced online, emphasizing the need to better protect players from such harassment following on-field events.