Rocha Littlejohn: Crystal Palace midfielder faces a lengthy ban after a red card for violent behaviour

Crystal Palace midfielder Rocha Littlejohn could face a lengthy suspension after the Football Association said the usual penalty of sending her off – following an altercation with Leicester City’s Hannah Kane – was “manifestly inadequate”.

Littlejohn, 35, appeared to grab her opponent around the neck before throwing her to the ground during Palace’s 3-0 League Cup win on Sunday.

The standard penalty for a red card for violent behavior is a three-match ban, but if the FA considers the sending off offense to be “genuinely exceptional”, it can seek to increase the penalty.

The issue will now be considered by an organizing committee.

An FA statement said: “An allegation of clearly inadequate punishment has been made against Crystal Palace’s Rosha Littlejohn.

“The player was sent off in approximately the 58th minute for violent behaviour. The standard penalty is a three-match ban, but this penalty is clearly insufficient.”

If the claim is accepted, the panel will decide a new penalty, but if it is rejected, Littlejohn will serve a standard three-match ban.

Ireland international Littlejohn – who joined Palace in September – has until Thursday to respond.