A women’s football match descended into chaos when a player was dismissed for executing what witnesses described as a judo-style maneuver on an opponent during a League Cup encounter.
The controversial moment occurred during Crystal Palace‘s 3-0 triumph over Leicester City, a result that propelled Palace to the summit of their group and secured qualification to the competition’s next stage. Goals from Kirsty Howat, Justine Vanhaevermaet, and Annabel Blanchard sealed the victory, but it was an off-the-ball incident that captured headlines.
The flashpoint involved Palace midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn and Leicester’s Hannah Cain. As tensions flared between several players on the pitch, Littlejohn moved toward the commotion ostensibly to defuse the situation. What happened next shocked onlookers: rather than separating the players peacefully, Littlejohn seized Cain around the neck area and performed a twisting motion that sent her opponent crashing to the turf.
The match official responded without hesitation, brandishing a straight red card that ended Littlejohn’s participation with more than half an hour remaining. The swift dismissal prevented any further escalation and fortunately no serious injuries resulted from the bizarre episode.
The incident immediately sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms where users expressed disbelief at witnessing such an unconventional action during a football match.
“Very lucky not to cause serious injury here,”
one observer noted online. Another suggested the move indicated specialized training, commenting:
“She must have some MMA or judo experience. I’ve never seen anything like that on a football pitch before.”
Playing with ten players following the expulsion, Palace demonstrated remarkable resilience to protect their lead. Leicester attempted to capitalize on their numerical advantage but found themselves unable to penetrate Palace’s reorganized defense. The London side held firm to record a shutout victory.
While Palace’s progression in the tournament represents a significant achievement for the club, the match will primarily be remembered for Littlejohn’s extraordinary dismissal.
