Jess Carter, the England Women's defender, has declared herself "ready to play" in the Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, despite being subjected to "disgusting" racist abuse on social media throughout the tournament. The 27-year-old, who has started in all four of England's matches in Switzerland, revealed the vile messages she has received since the beginning of the competition.
Carter took to Instagram to express her disappointment and to announce that she would be stepping back from social media to protect herself and maintain focus on the team. "From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse," Carter wrote. "Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don't agree or think it's ok to target someone's appearance or race". She added that she was grateful for the support from genuine fans and hoped that speaking out would make people "think twice" before sending abusive messages.
In response to the abuse, Carter's Lionesses teammates issued a joint statement condemning the "online poison" and declared they would not be taking the knee before their semi-final match against Italy. The team had been taking a knee before matches as a symbolic gesture against racism. "Representing our country is the greatest honour. It is not right that while we are doing that some of us are treated differently simply because of the colour of our skin," the Lionesses stated. They added that they felt it was time to find another way to tackle racism. Lucy Bronze explained the team's decision, questioning whether the message of taking a knee was still as strong as it once was.
The Football Association (FA) has strongly condemned the abuse and has taken immediate action, contacting the UK police and alerting the relevant social media platform. FA CEO Mark Bullingham stated, "Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs. We strongly condemn those responsible for this disgusting racism". He added that they are working with the police to ensure that those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice. Bullingham noted that the FA had measures in place to respond quickly, as this was not the first time an England player had been subjected to such abuse.
Support for Carter has poured in from across the football community and beyond. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated on X that there is "no place for racism in football or anywhere in society". Sir Keir Starmer also voiced his support, saying, "I stand with Jess, the Lionesses, and any players who have suffered racism, on and off the pitch". UEFA has also condemned the incident, stating that "Abuse and discrimination should never be tolerated, whether in football or society, in person or online". FIFA president Gianni Infantino echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that "No player should be discriminated against in any way".
Carter's club, Gotham FC in the United States, also expressed their outrage and support, stating, "We are heartbroken and outraged by the racist abuse directed at Jess Carter". The NWSL Players Association also denounced the abuse, stating, "We will not allow abuse of any kind to be normalised, minimised, or ignored".
Despite the abhorrent abuse, Jess Carter remains focused and determined to contribute to her team's success in the Euro 2025 semi-final. Her resilience and the widespread support she has received highlight the ongoing fight against racism in football and society, and the need for continued action to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all.
