Australian Media Accuse Irish Captain Katie McCabe Of "Petulance" & Being "Too Aggressive"

Ireland captain Katie McCabe has come under huge criticism from media down under, following her battles with Austraila's Hayley Ruso.

The Arsenal star has been accused of being "too aggressive" and "petulance" from the Australian media, declaring her "public enemy number one" from pundits and media down under.

They particularly complained about a challenge made by McCabe on the Real Madrid bound Hayley Ruso, which saw her leave her studs on the winger. However, it is interesting to point out that McCabe came off worse in that collision, apparently breaking one or two fingers, and needing to get them bandaged up.

Other media outlets continued their onslaught of criticism of McCabe, writing headlines such as, “Irish captain Katie McCabe sparks controversy with aggressive play against Matildas in tournament opener". 

The subhead read, “Ireland’s controversial captain Katie McCabe sparked a biff with the Matildas and sent the football world into a frenzy with one incident". 

"element of petulance"

Elsewhere, Katie McCabe was on the receiving end of further criticism from BBC pundit Karen Beardsley.

“There‘s an element of petulance here from Katie McCabe,” Bardsley said. “These challenges from her have just started to add up now.

“It is the referee‘s responsibility to manage those situations, because if you don’t nip it in the bud then it will just keep escalating", she added. “We certainly don‘t want to see anyone either stretchered off or sent off". 

Suggestions that her side were over-physical were dismissed by Ireland's manager Vera Pauw. 

While McCabe herself said that she enjoyed the physical side of the match.

“Australia are very powerful, I don’t know how many fouls were given,” said Pauw. “We had to take the heat out of it a bit but there was the same proportion on both sides.

“We try to play within the rules of the game and one of the key things in training we always try to play without fouls. I don’t know how many fouls there were today.

“But we are a team that is battling, we are Irish, the DNA of the team is to battle. There was a few challenges from both sides and that was just before half time". 

Ireland lost out to Australia in their FIFA Women's World Cup debut against Australia, thanks to a second half Stephanie Catley penalty. Vera Pauw's side take on Olympic champions Canada on Wednesday.