The Women’s Euros have brought plenty of excitement for fans, but for Lioness star Jess Carter, the tournament came with a darker side.
The England defender, 27, revealed that she had never felt scared to play a football match—until last month, when she became the target of racial abuse online following England’s quarter-final victory over Sweden.
Arrest Made Over Racially Abusive Messages
Police have now taken action. A 59-year-old man from Great Harwood, Lancashire, was arrested in connection with sending racially abusive messages to Carter.
He has been released under investigation while inquiries continue, as officers work to identify other potential offenders.
Police Speak Out Against Online Hate
Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for football policing, condemned the messages:
“The messages directed towards Jess Carter were appalling.
I commend her for standing up to this abuse and assisting with our investigation. Nobody should be subjected to such disgusting abuse.”
Police Constable Dan Fish from Lancashire echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that online and offline hate will not be tolerated.
“I hope this arrest sends a clear message that Lancashire Police will leave no stone unturned in identifying those who engage in such unacceptable behaviour – no matter how long it takes.”
Jess Carter Opens Up About Her Experience
Carter, who played 70 minutes in the match that England eventually won on penalties, revealed the toll the abuse took on her mental health.
She shared on Instagram:
“From the start of this tournament, I have experienced a lot of racial abuse.
Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performances and results, I don’t think it’s OK to target someone’s appearance or race.”
The defender added that stepping away from social media was necessary to protect herself and focus on helping the team.
She hopes speaking out will make online abusers think twice.
Fear and Pressure Ahead of the Final
Carter was part of manager Sarina Wiegman’s starting lineup for the final, where England faced Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout to lift a second consecutive European Championship.
She admitted to ITV News that the night before the game, she felt fear for the first time in her career.
“I think it was a mixture of my performances coming into such a big game and on top of that the fear of whatever abuse might come with it, whether it’s football-based or racial abuse.”
Protecting Teammates and Team Spirit
Carter also expressed concern for her teammate Lauren James, fearing the “astronomical” abuse James could have faced had she missed a penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Sweden.
Alongside Lucy Bronze and Leah Williamson, Carter is a key leader in the England dressing room, with 49 caps over her eight-year international career.
In a show of solidarity, the Lionesses chose not to take the knee before their semi-final against Italy, supporting Carter and her message against online hate.
