July 20, (THEWILL) — The England Football Association responded swiftly to defender Jess Carter after she disclosed that she suffered racist abuse on social media throughout the Women’s Euros in Switzerland, prompting her to step back from online platforms.
The 27-year-old, who has earned 49 caps for the Lionesses, announced via Instagram that she would leave social media management to her team while focusing on England’s tournament campaign.
Carter emphasised that whilst fans hold legitimate opinions about performance and results, targeting players based on race or appearance crosses an unacceptable line.
The England FA chief executive Mark Bullingham condemned the “abhorrent abuse” and confirmed immediate contact with UK police.
Authorities are now working with relevant social media platforms to identify perpetrators of what the FA characterised as hate crimes.
The organisation stated their primary concern remains supporting Carter whilst ensuring those responsible face justice through proper legal channels.
Carter’s England teammate Lucy Bronze described the squad’s reaction as combining anger and sadness, noting that players of colour representing England frequently encounter racist abuse.
Bronze called for greater accountability from social media platforms and stressed that such behaviour remains completely unacceptable whether conducted online or in person.
The defender highlighted how this abuse represents a persistent problem affecting multiple England internationals.
The Lionesses squad issued a collective statement supporting Carter and acknowledging that many current and former players have experienced similar racism.
The team announced they would discontinue taking the knee before matches, a gesture they had maintained throughout the tournament, stating football must find alternative approaches to combat racism.
This decision comes as England prepares for their semi-final against Italy in Geneva on Tuesday evening.
England’s tournament progression continues despite the controversy, with the defending champions one victory away from reaching their second consecutive European Championship final.
QShould they defeat Italy, they will face either Germany or Spain, who meet in Wednesday’s second semi-final.
Carter has started all four of England’s matches in Switzerland, maintaining her crucial role in the squad’s defensive structure throughout the competition.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
