England defender Jess Carter has revealed she is stepping away from social media after experiencing “a lot of racial abuse” during Euro 2025, prompting the Lionesses to end their practice of taking the knee before matches and the FA to contact police.
The 27-year-old, who has started all four of England’s games in Switzerland, announced her decision on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final against Italy in Geneva, stating she needed to “protect myself in a bid to keep my focus on helping the team.”
The revelation has sent shockwaves through the tournament and led to an immediate response from teammates, the Football Association, and political leaders, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declaring: “There is no place for racism in football or anywhere in society.”
Player’s Emotional Statement
Carter, who plays for NWSL side Gotham FC, shared her experiences in a heartfelt Instagram post that has garnered widespread support from the football community.
“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.”
The defender added: “As ever I am grateful for all of the support from the genuine fans but I am taking this measure to protect myself in a bid to keep my focus on helping the team anyway I can.”
Carter expressed hope that speaking out would “make the people writing this abuse think twice so that others won’t have to deal with it,” adding that she was proud to be part of a Lionesses squad making “historic changes.”
Squad Ends Taking the Knee
In a powerful show of solidarity, the England squad announced they would no longer take the knee before matches, a gesture they had performed throughout the tournament as an anti-racism protest.
“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. We have agreed as a squad to remain standing before kick-off on Tuesday,” the team statement read.
The squad’s message emphasised: “No one should have to endure such vile abuse, be that in football or any walk of life. 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.”
Taking the knee had become a regular pre-match ritual for England since 2020, following the killing of George Floyd in the United States. The gesture, originally popularised by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, has been a symbol of peaceful protest against discrimination and racial injustice.
Swift FA Response
FA CEO Mark Bullingham revealed that immediate action was taken once the abuse was reported, with UK police contacted and the relevant social media platform alerted.
“Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs,” Bullingham stated. “We strongly condemn those responsible for this disgusting racism.”
He added: “As soon as we were made aware of the racist abuse Jess received, we immediately contacted UK police. They are in touch with the relevant social media platform, and we are working with police to ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice.
Bullingham acknowledged this was not the first incident involving an England player, confirming the FA had “measures in place to allow us to respond quickly and where possible provide information to support any potential police action.
Manager and Teammates Rally
England manager Sarina Wiegman posted her support on social media, stating: “I stand with Jess, and all Lionesses players past and present who have suffered racism.
Teammates including Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, and Hannah Hampton showed their support by posting heart emojis on Carter’s original statement, whilst Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy expressed frustration at the recurring issue.
“Another tournament goes by where we see the same disgusting racist abuse,” Wubben-Moy said. “It’s unacceptable for any person to be subject to this or any kind of abuse. This issue goes beyond sport.
Bronze, speaking to media after Carter’s announcement, said: “We’re all just so disappointed in so-called fans writing these messages. For Jess herself, it’s obviously difficult for her to go through. All the players and the staff are here to support her.”
International Support
Carter’s domestic club Gotham FC released a strongly-worded statement condemning the abuse directed at their player.
We are heartbroken and outraged by the racist abuse directed at Jess Carter,” the club stated. Jess is not only a world-class football player—she is a role model, a leader and a valued part of our Gotham FC family.
UEFA also offered support, simply stating: “We stand with Jess.”
The incident has reignited debates about social media platforms’ responsibilities in combating online abuse, with calls for stricter measures to prevent anonymous accounts from spreading hate.
Tournament Context
Carter has been a regular starter for England throughout Euro 2025, featuring in all four matches as the defending champions reached the semi-finals. She was substituted in the 70th minute of Thursday’s quarter-final victory over Sweden, which England won on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
The defender faced criticism for her performance in England’s opening 2-1 defeat to France, where she admitted the team “didn’t show up” and that opposing wingers “could go wherever they wanted.” She was also involved in Sweden’s opening goal in the quarter-final when Kosovare Asllani intercepted her pass.
Despite the criticism of performances, the squad and management have unanimously condemned any abuse that crosses into personal attacks based on race or appearance.
Looking Ahead
England face Italy in Tuesday’s semi-final at the Stade de Genève in Geneva, with kick-off at 8pm UK time. The match will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX, with pre-match coverage beginning at 7pm.
Italy, appearing in their first European Championship semi-final since 1997, defeated Norway 2-1 in their quarter-final. England have won four of their last five meetings with the Azzurre, though Italy have historically dominated competitive fixtures between the nations.
As the Lionesses prepare for their seventh European Championship semi-final, they do so united in support of their teammate and determined to address the ongoing scourge of racism in football.
The team’s decision to stop taking the knee represents a shift in approach to anti-racism protests, with players calling for football authorities to “find another way to tackle racism” that produces meaningful change rather than symbolic gestures.
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Image Credit:
Jess Carter, 2022 – Photo by James Boyes, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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