Climate? Irish athlete ignores opponent who posted photo with ex

Australia and Ireland’s debut at the 2023 Women’s World Cup began with an off-field ‘weather’ between two opposing players. Before the ball rolled, Irish Ruesha Littlejohn did not greet Australian Caitlin Foord, who posted a photo with Ruesha’s ex shortly before the Worlds.

The case was spotted by the broadcasts and went viral on social media. As the players lined up saluting, Ruesha drew attention by lowering her hand to avoid shaking Caitlin. According to the British tabloid DailyMail, the climate also heated up among the athletes at the end of the match and Littlejohn had to be restrained by her colleagues.

The ending that nadie wanted to see: Ruesha Littlejohn 🇮🇪 dodging Caitlin Foord’s greeting 🇦🇺pic.twitter.com/fdnSc8bLhW

— Arsenal Women 🇦🇷 (@ArgsenalWFC) July 20, 2023

Ruesha maintained a relationship with fellow player and captain of the Irish national team, Katie McCabe, for seven years, but they ended before the Cup. McCabe was then tagged in a photo with Foord during a girlfriends weekend in Ibiza. They are also teammates at Arsenal in England.

Host Australia faced Ireland on Thursday, 20, for the first round of the group stage of the World Cup, and won the match 1-0, with a penalty goal converted by Steph Catley. The ‘Matildas’, as Australian players are known, lead Group B at the World Cup.