Man Handed Suspended Sentence for Online Racist Abuse of England Footballer Jess Carter
A 60-year-old man from Lancashire has received a suspended custodial sentence after posting racist messages online targeting England international footballer Jess Carter. The offensive posts were made during last summer's Uefa women's Euro 2025 tournament, where Carter was a key player for the victorious Lionesses squad.
Details of the Offensive Posts and Legal Proceedings
Nigel Dewale, from Great Harwood in Lancashire, used his TikTok account under the username Bogeyman to send two grossly offensive messages. The court heard that Dewale was reportedly "in drink" at home when he responded to a news article about police investigations into racial abuse previously directed at Carter following England's matches against France and Sweden.
His posts included: "Women's football is diabolical. Should not be on national TV. Brownies are racist murders (sic), fiddlers and groomers. End ov (sic)." He continued with: "Racist card again. Always brownies faking. This women's football should not be on TV. Waste of airtime."
The messages were subsequently traced to Dewale, leading to his arrest and charge. At Blackburn Magistrates' Court, he was handed a six-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. Dewale had previously pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive message via a public communications network.
Impact on Jess Carter and Tournament Success
Jess Carter, 28, who plays for US team Gotham FC, was a vital member of the England squad that successfully defended their European Championship title at the tournament held in Switzerland. During the competition, Carter announced she would be stepping back from managing her social media accounts to protect her mental health after being subjected to racist abuse.
Despite the harassment, Carter went on to start the final as England and Spain played out a 1-1 draw, with Alessia Russo cancelling out Mariona Caldentey's opening goal. The match proceeded to penalties, where England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton emerged as the hero as the Lionesses secured a 3-1 victory in the shootout.
This triumph meant Sarina Wiegman's side successfully defended the title they had won three years earlier following a 2-1 victory over Germany after extra time at Wembley, when Chloe Kelly scored the decisive goal. The victory marked another significant achievement for the women's national team amidst ongoing challenges with online abuse directed at players.
