[Nicky91]

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/...t-abuse-bronze

- Lucy Bronze said the Lionesses are "sad" and "angry" at the racist abuse Jess Carter has been subjected to and hopes their decision to no longer take the knee before matches will reach "around the world."

England defender Carter said on Sunday that she would be stepping back from social media due to the racist abuse she's been subjected to during Euro 2025. The Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham has condemned the abuse and says the FA has referred this to the UK police for further action.

"I think to be honest a lot of players have known that this has always been an issue in football but for Jess especially to [talk about it] ... we all know her as a person and she's so strong and so tenacious, so she almost doesn't want to put out anything she's going through on someone else," Bronze said. "To hear her talking about it yesterday, we're all just so disappointed in so-called fans writing out these messages.


"For Jess herself, she probably wouldn't put it out to the world but it's obviously difficult for her to go through. All the players, the FA and the staff are here to support her. We had meetings last night about it and we're all in full support for Jess and for any players going through racial abuse in this tournament. We know it's not just Jess as well. It's just disappointing we still must sit here in this day and age, and to see Jess go through that herself."

Bronze said the team met as a group on Saturday night and Sunday morning to discuss what collective action they would take. They previously sent the anti-racism message of taking the knee before matches, but will instead stand now. In the statement they said they made this call because it is "clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism."

https://www.theguardian.com/football...rter-euro-2025

England have condemned the “online poison” of racist abuse directed at the defender Jess Carter during the *European Championship in *Switzerland and said they would stop taking a knee before matches because “football needs to find another way to tackle racism”.

Carter received criticism after her performance in England’s defeat against France in their opening game of the tournament and was subsequently shifted from left-back to centre-back. She struggled again *during Thursday’s quarter-final *victory against Sweden and has now revealed the unacceptable *vitriol she has been a victim of while on *international duty.

FILE PHOTO: UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England<br>FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - Quarter Final - Sweden v England - Stadion Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland - July 17, 2025 England's Esme Morgan celebrates after winning the penalty shoot-out REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
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“From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse,” the 27-year-old defender wrote on Instagram. “While 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. As a result of this I will be taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to deal with.”

Carter has received widespread support, most emphatically from her teammates. In a collective statement, the Lionesses said: “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. 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 statement added: “Those behind this online poison must be held accountable.”

Lotte Wubben-Moy went further by announcing she was also *coming off social media. In a statement, the Arsenal defender said: “Another tournament goes by where we see the same disgusting racist abuse. It is unacceptable for any person to be subject to this or any kind of abuse. The issue goes beyond sport. But what is being done about it? On the very platforms we post on? I will not continue to feed the very *platform that enables abuse with no consequence.”

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