Kelsie Burrows Hit with 16-Game Ban Following Alleged Referee Incident
In a major blow to Cliftonville Women’s title push, captain Kelsie Burrows has been slapped with a 16-match suspension following an alleged assault on a match official after a crucial league win.
The ban stems from an incident on 25 July, shortly after Cliftonville’s 2-0 triumph over Glentoran Women. Referee Simon Bickerstaff issued a red card to Burrows after the final whistle, citing serious misconduct. “Entering the field of play to confront a match official.”
That’s the official reason behind team coach Brendan Lynch’s separate three-match suspension.
The 24-year-old defender, who only recently returned from injury, now finds herself at the centre of controversy.
It’s understood that Cliftonville have launched an appeal, which temporarily clears Burrows to take part in this Friday’s clash with Crusaders Strikers in the Women’s Premiership.
Cliftonville are deep in the title race, sitting just six points behind leaders Linfield with two games in hand. The Glentoran victory was seen as a key moment. But the post-match drama has thrown a cloud over that success.
“The incident came after the final whistle of the victory over Glentoran…”
Burrows, known for her leadership on and off the pitch, had just returned to the squad after a long ankle injury layoff. Her appearance against Glentoran marked her first game since early May.
She later led Cliftonville in their Champions League qualifying ties against Mitrovica and Lanchkhuti.
A seasoned defender, Burrows joined Cliftonville in 2021 from Linfield, having also spent time with Blackburn Rovers in England’s Championship. She was part of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2022 squad under manager Kenny Shiels.
Her time at Cliftonville has been trophy-laden. In 2022, she helped the Reds clinch their first-ever league title, and earlier this year, she captained them to a historic treble, winning every league game in the process.
BBC Sport NI has reached out to Cliftonville, the Irish Football Association (IFA), and NIFL for official comments regarding the incident.
If the appeal is rejected, the Reds face the daunting prospect of finishing the season — and possibly a Champions League run — without their captain and star defender.
