When England’s Lionesses lifted the Euro 2025 trophy after that nail-biting penalty shootout against Spain, not everyone on the team was celebrating without a mix of emotions.
Jess Carter, the 27-year-old centre-back, has shared how she felt relief but also fear as she dealt with brutal racial abuse throughout the tournament.
Stepping Back from Social Media to Protect Her Mental Health
Carter plays for Gotham FC in the US but was in the spotlight with England.
Midway through the tournament, she took a break from social media after being bombarded with “violently aggressive” racist messages.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but one she made to keep her focus on the game and her teammates.
The Pressure of Penalty Shootouts and Racial Abuse
During the quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden, Carter admits she feared the worst when her teammate Lauren James missed a penalty.
James, who is of Grenadian and Dominican heritage, was the first to miss.
Carter says she actually felt a “sigh of relief” when one of the white players missed after James, because she knew the kind of racist backlash James would have faced if she was the only one to miss.
“It’s horrible to say, but it’s about knowing how it’s going to be for us if we miss,” Carter explained.
It’s not about wanting anyone to fail — it’s about surviving the reality of racism in football.
Facing Fear Before the Final in Basel
Carter revealed that the night before the final against Spain, she was genuinely scared — not just because of the pressure of such a huge game, but because of the racist abuse she knew she might face.
“That was the first time I was too scared to play,” she said. The abuse made her feel small, unimportant, and full of doubt.
It wasn’t just her who suffered — her family felt devastated too, especially since they couldn’t be there in Switzerland the whole time to support her.
Brutal Racism From the Start of the Tournament
Carter shared how the abuse started the moment she stepped on the pitch in the game against France.
The comments quickly moved from critiquing her performance to attacking her race in a violently aggressive way.
It’s a painful reality she and other Black players on the team have had to endure.
Team Solidarity and Lucy Bronze’s Strong Response
Lionesses veteran Lucy Bronze publicly condemned the vile racism aimed at Carter.
She pointed out that sadly, racist abuse has been a constant for players of color in English football.
With the women’s game growing in popularity, the abuse has also become more visible, which the team is determined to fight against.
During the tournament, the Lionesses decided to stop taking the knee before matches, saying the gesture had lost its impact and meaning.
Bronze expressed hope that players like Jess can play with pride and joy, free from such hateful attacks.
Jess Carter’s Decision to Speak Out
Carter’s decision to pause her social media came with a heartfelt message.
She acknowledged that while fans can have opinions on performances, attacking someone’s race or appearance is unacceptable.
She hoped that by speaking out, those spreading hate might think twice, and others won’t have to go through the same.
Interestingly, it was Carter’s sister who encouraged her to make a public statement about stepping back.
She asked Carter to imagine if the abuse was aimed at her own niece or nephew or other young Black players like Michelle Agyemang or Lauren James — would she want them to stay silent? That perspective gave Carter the courage to speak up.