(Credit: INPHO, BBC Sport)

Jonathan Burnett

Tue 5 August 2025 11:52, UK

Northern Ireland Women’s international Kelsie Burrows could yet be hit with an extended ban on top of her already extraordinary suspension after an alleged assault on a referee.

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The Cliftonville Ladies captain has been hit with a 16-game ban for an alleged assault on referee Simon Bickerstaff in their 2-0 win over Glentoran Women on 25 July, though this is subject to an appeal.

Burrows has won 13 caps for Northern Ireland since her debut in 2020 and has won two Women’s Premiership titles with Cliftonville, as well as three League Cups, the Challenge Cup and All-Island Cup.

The 24-year-old joined Cliftonville after two spells at Linfield either side of a season-long stint with Blackburn Rovers, but now looks set to leave her side without their captain for much of the year ahead.

Kelsie Burrows faces a ban which would rule her out well into next season (Credit: Imago)

BBC Sport reported on 5 August that the Irish Football Association (IFA) had handed Burrows that 16-game ban for her conduct towards Bickerstaff after Cliftonville’s 2-0 win over Glentoran last month.

Burrows was shown a red card by Bickerstaff after the full-time whistle at Solitude stadium, and while the IFA’s ban comes into play effective immediately, the Cliftonville skipper could still be available to play.

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Cliftonville are appealing the IFA’s decision, which covers all competitions for the club, meaning that Burrows will still be available to feature in their Premiership fixture against Crusaders Strikers on Friday.

The IFA’s initial 16-match ban for Burrows is a lenghty punishment and could see the defender miss matches well into 2026, but Keith Hackett believes that this could be extended after Cliftonville’s appeal.

Burrows had a spell at Blackburn Rovers back in the 2019–20 season

This article contains exclusive comments from ex-FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief and FIFA official was in full support of the IFA’s decision to hand down a 16-match ban on Burrows, and called for further sanctions should the defender’s appeal be unsuccessful.

“Referees are human and will make mistakes, just like a player who misses an open net or a manager makes tactical errors”, Hackett told Football Insider.

“Players on the field of play have to accept this, and not take the alleged action that this player has taken to be sanctioned with a 16-game ban, subject to the appeal.

“It is paramount for the good of the game that the authorities – in this case the Northern Irish FA – take appropriate steps to ensure that this does not happen again.

“I therefore applaud their decision of sending out a clear message to everyone in the game: that an assault on a match official is not acceptable.

“The club, by appealing against the decision and taking advantage of the player being able to play in the next game, have a right to do this.

“The Northern Ireland FA hopefully have in place a ‘Frivolous Appeal’ criteria, whereby if the bid fails the sanction can be increased.

“If it fails, it should increase to a 20-game ban and a financial cost, making the player meet the full costs of the appeal.

“I hope that this action by the player and this club do not impact on the referee’s career going forward.

“It’s shocking at any level that an official could be assaulted, an allegation found to be proven but now subject to appeal.”

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