England Defender Jess Carter steps Away from Social Media Amidst Racist Abuse
Jess Carter, a 27-year-old defender for the English national football team, has announced she will cease social media activity due to persistent racist and malicious comments.The decision comes after Carter, a key player in England’s Euro 2025 campaign where she started all four matches en route to the semi-finals, faced attacks targeting her appearance and race, unrelated to her performance.
carter stated in a personal message, “I respect fans having opinions on performance and results, but it is unacceptable to attack someone’s appearance and race.” She expressed hope that her action would raise awareness about such issues.
The English women’s national team publicly supported Carter, condemning the “online poison” as unjustifiable in any aspect of life. The team emphasized that representing the nation is a significant honor and should not be subject to discrimination based on skin color. This stance aligns with the team’s recent decision to “stand” instead of “kneel” as an anti-racism gesture during the tournament in Italy, signaling a shift in their approach to combating racial discrimination, a movement that gained prominence following George Floyd’s death in 2020.
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the Football Association, confirmed that thay are collaborating with law enforcement and engaging with social media companies to address and prevent such harmful behavior. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, stating that racial discrimination has no place in football or society.
Carter’s teammates have also voiced their solidarity. Defender Lotte Wubben-Moy declared her own withdrawal from social media, citing exhaustion from repeated hateful incidents. Lucy bronze highlighted the increasing severity of online attacks against female footballers, noting that women’s football is particularly targeted. She expressed a belief in the possibility of change and the importance of the messages delivered by the team.
Jess Carter, who debuted for the national team in 2017, has been a vital defender, contributing to England’s Euro 2022 victory and accumulating 49 caps for her country.
