What was supposed to be a friendly Women’s World Cup training game between the Republic of Ireland and Colombia had to be abandoned after just 20 minutes on Friday evening because of what the Irish felt was an “overly physical” start to the match that left one of their star player, Denise O’Sullivan, in hospital.
It’s understood Ireland head coach Vera Pauw stepped in and asked the officials to stop the game after what, according to sources, was perceived to be an excessively heavy tackle by an unnamed Colombian player that left North Carolina Courage midfielder O’Sullivan requiring treatment on a suspected shin injury. She will now await the results of scans on her leg on Saturday.
World Cup debutants Ireland are said to have felt it 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. Another source told Telegraph Sport that a yellow card had been shown to a Colombian player inside the first 10 minutes of the friendly.
The Colombian national team’s representatives have been contacted by Telegraph Sport for a response. No media personnel were allowed to attend the behind-closed-doors fixture.
“The behind-closed-doors game between the Ireland women’s national team and Colombia on Friday evening ended after 20 minutes of play,” an FAI statement read.
“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 Ireland team then underwent a full training session to continue preparations for their opening game against Australia in Sydney on July 20.”
O’Sullivan’s issue added to a worrying night of injuries more widely ahead of the start of the tournament, coming on the same evening that France wing-back Selma Bacha was taken off on a stretcher in agony at the end of their friendly defeat by Australia , appearing to have suffered an ankle injury that now puts her participation in the tournament in major doubt. The incident left her Lyon teammate, Australia right-back Ellie Carpenter, in tears. Earlier in that friendly, co-hosts Australia saw their former West Ham United midfielder Tameka Yallop limp off with fears of a knee injury.
That match – which was designated as a full international – between the Matildas and France in Melbourne attracted a crowd of 50,629, a new record for an Australian women’s national team fixture. It is a record they are set to break again when they meet Ireland on the opening night of the World Cup at a sold-out Stadium Australia in Sydney.
England, meanwhile, had a more low-key evening, playing out a 0-0 draw in a behind-closed-doors friendly game against Olympic champions Canada in Queensland. Similar to the Ireland fixture, the media were not allowed to attend this game as it was not being logged as an official international, and both teams deployed roll-on and roll-off substitutions.
Unlike the Ireland match, there are no reports of any concerning injuries. Sarina Weigman gave runouts to 21 of her squad, with only back-up goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and striker Bethany England not being used. Captain Millie Bright, returning after injury, played as she stepped up her recovery and boosted her hopes of featuring in England’s opening game against Haiti on July 22.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.