Violence is quite widespread in men’s football (soccer), especially as you move further down the leagues to the lower skill levels. But I didn’t think women’s football would be as bad. But it is, and then some.
This video shows University Of New Mexico defender Elizabeth Lambert playing against Brigham Young University in the semi-finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament. Although, maybe playing is the wrong word.
The 20-year-old Lambert was filmed going in for high and brutal tackles, punching a player in the back, and then pulling one opponent’s ponytail so hard she’s yanked back and falls on the floor.
Lambert has now been suspended for her behavior. Which is fair, of course. However, she’s maybe being treated a little harshly in the media and on the Web. In both the punch and the hair pull incident, she was clearly reacting to some violence coming from the other players.
And I’m guessing this stuff is more widespread than we’d like to think.
