Following racist abuse directed at her England teammate Jess Carter during Euro 2025, Lucy Bronze has issued a strong warning about the impact of social media and the need for greater accountability. Bronze stated firmly on July 20, 2025, that "no one needs social media," highlighting the capacity for players to "thrive" without these platforms.
Carter, who has been a key player for England, revealed that she had been subjected to racist slurs on social media since the start of the tournament. In response, she announced she would be taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to manage. Teammate Lotte Wubben-Moy also declared she would "not continue to feed the very platforms that enable this abuse with no consequence" for the remainder of the tournament. The Football Association (FA) has contacted UK police, and the social media platform involved has been alerted.
Bronze expressed her support for Carter, condemning the "vile" and "abhorrent" abuse. "The abuse is not okay. Racism is not okay," she asserted. She further emphasized the need for social media platforms and individuals to be held accountable for their actions. Bronze highlighted that online abuse in women's football is "getting worse and worse" as the game gains more prominence. She called for more action to be taken by social media companies to protect players from this toxicity.
The England squad has held meetings to address the issue, demonstrating solidarity with Carter and other players affected by racism. The team has decided to stand before their Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, explaining that taking the knee no longer carries the same strong anti-racism message as it once did. The Lionesses released a statement expressing their support for Carter and all past and present players who have suffered racism. They stated that "no one should have to endure such vile abuse, be that in football or any walk of life".
Several organizations and figures have also voiced their support for Carter and condemned the abuse. Kick It Out, an anti-discrimination and inclusion charity, stated that it supports Carter's decision to prioritize her well-being and that players "should feel safe while doing their jobs". The organization also emphasized the responsibility of social media companies to prevent exposure to toxicity and called for urgent action from all parties involved. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there is "no place for racism in football or anywhere in society".
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has been actively campaigning for better online protection for players since 2015. They view social media as an extension of a professional footballer's workplace and advocate for measures to identify, sanction, and eradicate perpetrators of online abuse. A 2020 study commissioned by the PFA found that 43% of Premier League players experienced targeted and explicitly racist abuse on Twitter.
The rise in online abuse is a growing concern in football and other sports. Reports of discriminatory behavior have increased significantly in recent years, with online abuse more than doubling in some cases. This has led to calls for more proactive measures to combat online hate speech and protect athletes from its damaging effects.
