England and Gotham FC defender Jess Carter has spoken candidly about the racist online abuse she endured during the Lionesses' Euro 2025 campaign, revealing the profound emotional turmoil it caused and the difficult decision to confront it publicly. The Guardian's Footballer of the Year, who ended 2025 as a European champion and NWSL title winner, described how the vitriol shattered her confidence and left her feeling isolated and anxious.
The Moment the Bubble Burst
Carter, 28, was first targeted after a challenging performance in England's opening 2-1 defeat to France. While checking her Instagram direct messages—something she rarely does—she was confronted with a series of racist attacks. "It just really devalues you," Carter explained. "It makes you question everything about yourself, who I am. Just my skin colour?"
She initially tried to delete the messages and "stay in the bubble" of the tournament, but the abuse continued after subsequent games, including the 6-1 win over Wales. The breaking point came after the penalty shootout victory against Sweden, when she discovered a fresh wave of hateful messages while sitting with her family. "My sister saw my face and asked what had happened," Carter recalled.
The Weight of Speaking Out
Encouraged by her sister, Carter wrestled with whether to go public. She was concerned about drawing more scrutiny to the squad and felt cynical that anything would be done. However, her perspective shifted when her sister posed a crucial question: What would she advise younger Black teammates like Lauren James, Khiara Keating, or Michelle Agyemang to do if they faced similar abuse?
"I was the oldest player of colour there, I felt a sense of responsibility," Carter stated. This sense of duty, coupled with thoughts of her mixed-race nieces and nephews, propelled her to act. She informed the Football Association and then spoke with the team's leadership, senior players, and head coach Sarina Wiegman.
The squad responded with unified support, issuing a collective statement condemning the "online poison" and announcing they would stop taking the knee before matches, a gesture the players of colour felt had lost its value. Carter also posted her own message on Instagram, stating she was stepping back from social media and that targeting someone's race was unacceptable. A police investigation followed, and a man has been summonsed to court on 9 January in connection with the messages.
Tournament Turmoil and Ultimate Triumph
The abuse had a severe impact on Carter's mental state throughout the competition. "It gave me a lot of anxiety... I remember not wanting to go out at all in between games," she said. When Wiegman tactically dropped her for the semi-final against Italy, Carter felt "instantly relieved," a reaction that underscored how heavily the abuse had weighed on her.
Despite her self-assessment of an inconsistent tournament, Wiegman reinstated Carter for the final against Spain. The night before the match was fraught with unprecedented anxiety. "I wasn't equipped with the tools to manage it, because I've never needed to," she admitted. Channeling a pragmatic mindset, she focused on the job, and England ultimately triumphed in a penalty shootout to secure their second consecutive European title.
The victory brought overwhelming relief. Carter then returned to the United States to help Gotham FC clinch the NWSL championship, capping a tumultuous but ultimately triumphant year. Reflecting on the broader issue, Carter highlighted the disproportionate scrutiny faced by Black players, noting the added pressure they face even in moments like taking a penalty. "Having to try to find a way to filter out the fact that whatever happens you're going to get scrutinised so much... because of the colour of your skin. That's so much more added pressure."
