England and Gotham FC defender Jess Carter has spoken publicly for the first time about the profound impact of the racist abuse she received during the Lionesses' successful Euro 2025 campaign, revealing it caused severe anxiety and led her to withdraw from public view during the tournament.
The moment the bubble burst
Carter, who was named The Guardian's Footballer of the Year for her resilience, was first targeted after England's opening 2-1 defeat to France. While checking her Instagram direct messages—something she rarely does—she was confronted with vile racist comments. "It just really devalues you," Carter explained. "It makes you question everything about yourself... Just my skin colour?"
The 28-year-old described trying to bury the experience to maintain focus, but the abuse continued. After a subsequent 6-1 victory over Wales, she discovered more hateful messages. The breaking point came following England's penalty shootout win over Sweden, when she opened her phone to a fresh torrent of abuse in front of her sister.
The weight of speaking out
Carter initially resisted going public. "One, nothing gets done about it. Two, we already have so much scrutiny as England players," she said. However, her sister challenged her perspective by asking what advice she would give to younger teammates of colour like Lauren James, Khiara Keating, or Michelle Agyemang if they faced similar abuse.
This prompted Carter to act. She informed the Football Association and then spoke with the team's leadership, senior players, and head coach Sarina Wiegman. The squad collectively decided to issue a statement condemning the "online poison" and to stop taking the knee before matches, a gesture the players of colour felt had lost its value.
"The moment I'd spoken to them I just felt like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders," Carter said. "I knew I wasn't alone." 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 tangible effect on Carter's mental state and performance. "It gave me a lot of anxiety throughout the tournament... I remember not wanting to go out at all in between games," she admitted. This anxiety peaked before the final against Spain, where she experienced "sheer panic, stress and anxiety" for the first time before a match.
Dropped for the semi-final against Italy, Carter felt relief rather than disappointment. Her training intensity improved instantly, highlighting the psychological burden she had been carrying. Wiegman, whom Carter praises for their "amazing" and honest relationship, reinstated her for the final—a decision that felt like a huge vote of confidence.
England went on to win the tournament, securing their second consecutive European Championship. Carter then returned to the United States, where she helped Gotham FC win the National Women's Soccer League title, capping a remarkable year of sporting success amidst profound personal challenge.
Carter also addressed the disproportionate scrutiny faced by black players, recalling her relief when white teammates missed penalties alongside Lauren James. "Having to try to find a way to filter out the fact that whatever happens you're going to get scrutinised so much, not just for playing poorly or missing a penalty, but because of the colour of your skin. That's so much more added pressure," she stated.
Her journey through Euro 2025 stands as a stark reminder of the toxic abuse still prevalent in football and the resilience required to overcome it at the very highest level of the sport.
