Cumbrian forward Georgia Stanway has come in for abuse on social media after her red card in the Manchester derby.
Stanway, 22, from Barrow, and playing for City was sent-off for a dangerous tackle on the United player Leah Galton.
The WSL match finished all square 2-2 after Stanway had been dismissed in the 35th minute.
The England international Stanway wrote on Twitter about the abuse she had been subject to after that red card incident.
She wrote: “I want to apologise for the sending-off in yesterday’s Manchester derby. Everyone who knows me, knows I’m passionate and competitive.
“There was absolutely no malice intended and I’m glad Leah was okay and able to carry on with the game.
“A huge thank you to my Man City team-mates for the support and effort to secure a point, and to both sets of fans for creating an unbelievable atmosphere.
“I made a mistake and hope everyone can accept my apology but I shouldn’t have to log into social media and find myself subjected to all sorts of abusive messages.
“Remember we are all human and mistakes happen.”
In 2016, Stanway was nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and a year later was nominated for PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year.
In June 2018, she was named in the UEFA Women’s Champions League squad of the season, capped in 2019 by being awarded PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year.
Saturday’s dismissal was not the first red card of her career.
In November 2019 Stanway scored two goals before being sent off, after receiving two yellow cards, in a 5–0 league win against West Ham United.
Born in Barrow she joined Blackburn to forge her ambition of playing professionally and that career took off after her move to Man City in 2015.
