‘Overly physical’ World Cup warm-up match abandoned after player hospitalised
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A friendly match between Women’s World Cup-bound teams Ireland and Colombia was abandoned after becoming overly physical, the Football Association of Ireland said.
The game on Friday night in Brisbane, which was played behind closed doors, was called off after 20 minutes.
Denise O’Sullivan of Ireland, pictured during a different match against France earlier this month, was taken to hospital on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images
“The game, which was held in Meakin Park, Brisbane, became overly physical and it was decided, following consultation with the match officials, to end the game,” the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said in a statement.
“The Ireland team then underwent a full training session to continue preparations for their opening game in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”
Irish media reported that midfielder Denise O’Sullivan was taken to hospital after suffering a shin injury during the match. She will now await the results of scans on her leg on Saturday.
World Cup debutants Ireland are said to have felt an excessive tackle by an unnamed Colombian player was not in keeping with the spirit of what had been planned as a friendly run-out to help both teams build fitness ahead of the World Cup starting on Thursday, the day when Ireland face co-hosts Australia in Sydney, The Telegraph in London reported.
FAI has been contacted for comment on the injury.
The Colombian Football Federation said that the friendly match was suspended because the Irish team “preferred not to continue playing after 23 minutes of the first half”.
“While all the processes and training of our national teams are framed within the rules of the game, healthy competition and FairPlay, among others, we respect the decision of our rival team,” the body added.
Ireland are playing in their first World Cup which is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from July 20-August 20.
They begin their Group B campaign against the Matildas before facing Canada and Nigeria.
Colombia will play a second friendly training clash against China ahead of their opener against South Korea on July 24 before facing Germany and Morocco in Group H.
Reuters
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