Police Arrest Two Men Over Racist Abuse Against England Footballer Jess Carter

Two men have been arrested in connection with racist and abusive social media messages sent to England defender Jess Carter during the UEFA Women’s Euros in July 2025. A 30-year-old man from Ripley, Derbyshire, and a 59-year-old man from Great Harwood, Lancashire, were each arrested on suspicion of malicious communications and have been released on bail. The investigation was launched by the UK Football Policing Unit in partnership with social media companies to identify those responsible for the vile abuse. Jess Carter, who has 49 England caps, announced she would be taking a step back from social media due to the psychological impact of the abuse, which made her feel scared during the tournament. Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts emphasized that racist abuse will not be tolerated, and Sergeant Gemma Thursfield highlighted that online abuse is as serious as in-person abuse and will be treated accordingly by law enforcement. Authorities continue to work to bring offenders to justice and stress personal accountability for online conduct.