Jess Carter, the England Women defender, has disclosed a painful reality. She continued to receive racist abuse on her social media accounts all during Euro 2025. The abuse didn’t waste any time, hitting the moment the tournament kicked off. It was during that period that she started all four of England’s games in Switzerland. Lowest of the low The Football Association (FA) moved rapidly to buttress this awful occurrence. They folded their hands and turned to the police to hold those who committed crimes accountable.
While Carter’s experience of racism is no doubt an extreme example, it points to a long-term and continuing problem that has followed the sport throughout its history. We’re proud that the Lionesses are standing so resolutely with her. In doing so, they underscore the fact that not a single player deserves such vile and racist treatment. In a statement released by the team, they underscored the need for change in how racism is addressed within football.
Support from Team-mates
The Lionesses have rallied around Jess Carter to help her through this difficult period. They released a collective statement emphasizing their commitment to standing against racism and ensuring that every player is treated equally.
“We stand with Jess and all Lionesses players past and present who have suffered racism.” – Lionesses team statement
The statement further condemned the abuse Carter has faced, stating, “No one should have to endure such vile abuse, be that in football or any walk of life.” That message sounds good to the ears of everyone in the beautiful game, and the Red Bulls are hoping to foster a safe creative inclusive space.
In their statement, the Lionesses insisted that it is unacceptable for any player to feel different treatment due to their race. They articulated their stance clearly: “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.”
A Shift in Approach
Instead of letting racism win, the Lionesses have chosen to fight back. The squad will take the knee together before kick-off in their next Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy. They’ve announced that they won’t be kneeling before games. Today’s decision is a testament to their dedication to finding “another way” to display solidarity and raise awareness against racism.
“Until now, we have chosen to take the knee before matches. It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.” – Lionesses team statement
This change is an encouraging sign that more people understand that gestures like banning a song will not be enough to fight racism. Through this work, the team hopes to influence conversation and action that moves past performative gestures.
Prioritizing Well-Being and Justice
The FA has been quick to respond, putting Jess Carter’s wellbeing first and making sure that she has proper support while she is going through this awful time. They sounded the alarm to law enforcement about the violent messages being sent to her. Today, they are working like hell to make sure that justice is finally done.
Carter detailed how the abuse she endured took a heavy toll on her mental health. She opened up about her decision to take a hiatus from social media.
“A message to the fans… From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse. 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.” – Jess Carter
Carter’s decision to withdraw from social media at this point underscores the emotional and mental drain these interactions inflict on athletes. The Lionesses are right to be uncompromising in their intent to see anyone who acts in this manner punished.
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