Ruesha Littlejohn: I definitely wasn’t intending to cause any harm to Hannah Cain

Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward, left, and Ruesha Littlejohn. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ruesha Littlejohn insists she intended no harm in the red card fracas that her Ireland manager Carla Ward contends has caused a ‘disgusting’ social media backlash.

The experienced Crystal Palace midfielder is expected to be hit with a hefty ban after slamming Hannah Cain to the ground in Sunday’s English League Cup win over Leicester City.

The English FA have stated that the standard three-game suspension is ‘clearly insufficient’ for an altercation that has been compared to a wrestling manoeuvre. 

Littlejohn went straight into international camp for today’s friendly against Hungary in Marbella (11.30am), admitting “emotion overspilled” in the incident that has gone viral.

Ward, who managed the Glaswegian at both Birmingham City and Aston Villa, preferred to talk up the reaction when the matter was raised during Friday’s pre-match press conference.

She cited the cases of player Maddy Cusack and manager Matt Beard, both of whom passed in tragic circumstances, as evidence for the likes of X to monitor the vitriol that can appear in cyberspace.

For Littlejohn’s part, the 35-year-old explained she’s yet to apologise to the player and will be contesting any punishment that exceeds three matches.

“I accept that, by the letter of the law, I had put my hand on Hannah Cain therefore it is a red card,” the Glaswegian explained.

“But I definitely wasn’t intending to cause any harm to the player. So we will be contesting it if (the ban) if is going to be any more games.

“I haven’t reached out to Hannah myself. I thought about it on Sunday but then felt it best to let it go down the right channels with everything.

“I was still at the game so I knew she came back on to play the rest of the match. Then I was aware that she travelled with her national team (Wales). I was happy that she was fit and healthy.” 

Despite being renowned for her media presence, through a YouTube channel and podcast, the stalwart has chosen against visiting that sphere this week.

“I thought it was best to step away from it for a while, there’s been a lot going on. I’ve been quite active,” she said.

“I thought it was the right thing to just come into camp and keep the head down and it’s going through the right channels right now and let’s see what the outcome is.” 

She was also criticised for calling her former Villa and Birmingham teammate Hannah Hampton a "pain in the arse" recently, arising from being dragged into a spat with fellow England goalkeeper Mary Earps.

There’s no indication of Littlejohn upgrading her self-imposed social media exile beyond a temporary stage.

"I know I'm a bit of a character and some people might not like that, but that's what happens when you put yourself online and put yourself on podcasts," she added.

"I'm going to want to, after football, probably stay in media, doing podcasts and YouTube.

“If people watched what I had said about Hannah Hampton, I'm full of praise for her, she’s a fantastic goalkeeper.

"You can pick out lines and sort of use it for clickbait. I think that's what's been going on there."

Ward has no fears about Littlejohn’s mental capacity to resume action in Saturday’s workout. She’s adamant the wave of hate is disproportionate to her sin.

“We’ve had plenty of conversations and Ruesha is in the right headspace,” said the Ireland boss.

“She’s made a mistake but people make mistakes and life doesn’t stop.

“Ruesha has just acknowledged it was a moment that she deeply regrets.

“The one thing that I don't like is the outpouring of abuse on social media, in my opinion, has been a disgrace.

"When do we learn that battering people in that way, that it doesn't end well. At what point do we start learning? I was close to Maddy. We lost Maddie. I was close to Beardie. We lost Beardie.

“I'm sick of seeing it. I'm sick of seeing hurls of abuse at people. She's a human being. She's somebody's daughter. She's somebody's sister. It's not okay.

“I look at Ruesha and it's not just because I've got a long-standing relationship. She's a player. I'll look after all my players and some of the stuff I've seen this week is disgusting.” 

On the pitch, Ward intends making up to six changes to the starting line-up which emerged through last month’s playoff to secure their place in the top tier for next year’s World Cup qualifiers. 

Ireland will face France, Netherlands and Poland, already assured of a playoff route to Brazil in 2027 regardless of regulation results.

Goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse will make her debut, over two years on from her initial call-up, while Abbie Larkin’s goalscoring heroics off the bench in Belgium will be rewarded with promotion to the XI.