Female college soccer player, Elizabeth Lambert beats up others, officials do nothing

**Zuberi** · 9th-November-2009

Updated: November 6, 2009, 5:36 PM ET
New Mexico player banned, apologizes

New Mexico women's soccer defender Elizabeth Lambert has been suspended indefinitely after engaging in rough play -- including hauling an opposing player to the ground by her pony tail -- in the Lobos' 1-0 loss to BYU in the Mountain West Conference semifinals.

Lambert is prohibited from taking part in practices, games and conditioning, coach Kit Vela announced Friday.

"Liz is a quality student-athlete, but in this instance her actions clearly crossed the line of fair play and good sportsmanship," Vela said.

Video footage of the game shows Lambert, a junior, committing a series of excessively rough plays, including kicking, tackles, a forearm shiver to the back -- in response to an elbow to the ribs -- and yanking BYU forward Kassidy Shumway to the ground by her hair.

Lambert was assessed a yellow card during the 76th minute, apparently for tripping.

On Friday, Lambert apologized for her actions, saying she was "deeply and wholeheartedly regretful."

Link.

Video report here. Oh, they finally did stop her, after she had aggressively fouled almost every other player on the other team.
What is of interest here is the reactions (or lack thereof) of the officials, her coach, and her team-mates. No one lifted a finger or called foul until it became so egregious that someone had to do something. "Girls don't behave that way," is the assumption, so cognitive dissonance kicks in and it takes her nearly having to start pummeling the other players openly to get someone to stop her.

PATHETIC!!!!!!

**6ame** · 9th-November-2009

I watched the video, and although it does seem rough, it's really nothing compared to the highlights you'd get from any average league fixture from Europe in the men's game.

Here in Britain, players who play in such a manner are often heroes of the team, they're not afraid to risk a booking in order to put the other team off. Vinnie Jones, Julian Dicks, Tommy Smith, and my own personal favourite, Graeme Souness spring to mind, all hard as nails on the pitch, dirty hacking bastards the lot of them, but they were adored by the fans for that very reason, it's all to do with passion.

On the street of course it's a different matter, but in a physical game where all participants know how physical it can get, then no-one should be surprised, especially the other players.

**themanonthestreet** · 9th-November-2009

Since when is yanking someone down to the ground via their ponytail part of the game? She could have done some real damage to that player.

TMOTS

**6ame** · 9th-November-2009

Quote from themanonthestreet

Since when is yanking someone down to the ground via their ponytail part of the game? She could have done some real damage to that player.

TMOTS

That was the worst, but that's it, the rest were tackles, misjudged maybe, but nothing out of the ordinary, and the punch was clearly retaliation for an elbow in the chest, I have no idea what the woman with the pony tail done before that clip, maybe nothing, maybe something, I have only seen that video of it.

**RebelliousVanilla** · 9th-November-2009

People need to watch Premier League more. Some Paul Scholes for you? That guy tackles stupidly, not just hard. I actually didn't see anything that special, besides the hair pulling thing. A couple of them weren't even fouls because she touched the ball first.

To be honest, I'd want that girl on my team. I like hard defenders. I want to play football now. I miss being a left wing.

Stupid car crashes.

Is it weird if you shoot the basketball with your right hand and shoot a football with your left foot? lol

**Zuberi** · 9th-November-2009

Quote from RebelliousVanilla

People need to watch Premier League more. Some Paul Scholes for you? That guy tackles stupidly, not just hard. I actually didn't see anything that special, besides the hair pulling thing. A couple of them weren't even fouls because she touched the ball first.

YouTube- Dirty Tackles and Football Fights
To be honest, I'd want that girl on my team. I like hard defenders. I want to play football now. I miss being a left wing.

Stupid car crashes.

Is it weird if you shoot the basketball with your right hand and shoot a football with your left foot? lol

That video reminds me of my days in middle school!

**6ame** · 9th-November-2009

Best, Tackle, Ever.

**nivek** · 9th-November-2009

Quote from 6ame

Best, Tackle, Ever.
YouTube- Boris Johnson vs Germany

lol ... wrong game Boris !!

**RebelliousVanilla** · 9th-November-2009

lol@score

**Feckless** · 10th-November-2009

Quote from RebelliousVanilla

People need to watch Premier League more. Some Paul Scholes for you? That guy tackles stupidly, not just hard. I actually didn't see anything that special, besides the hair pulling thing. A couple of them weren't even fouls because she touched the ball first.

The hair pulling thing is enough to punish her after the game. I believe the same thing is happening to compareable foulse in men's leagues.

Quote from RebelliousVanilla

YouTube- Dirty Tackles and Football Fights
To be honest, I'd want that girl on my team. I like hard defenders. I want to play football now. I miss being a left wing.

Stupid car crashes.

That heel kick to the head at 0:23 - "Aua aua aua"

Quote from RebelliousVanilla

Is it weird if you shoot the basketball with your right hand and shoot a football with your left foot? lol

It isn´t, same here (Tennis right, Table Tennis left, Soccer right)

**Tyrael** · 10th-November-2009

Quote from Zuberi

Video report here.

Why did it take so long for them to do anything against her gross physical abuse on the field? A male football player would probably immediately receive a red card. Double standards hmm?

**RebelliousVanilla** · 10th-November-2009

Quote from Tyrael

Why did it take so long for them to do anything against her gross physical abuse on the field? A male football player would probably immediately receive a red card. Double standards hmm?

lol, I saw way more brutal attacks that didn't get cards.