England Lionesses Face Racist Abuse During Euro 2025 Campaign

England defender Jess Carter revealed she was scared to play in the Euro 2025 final due to the racial abuse she faced following the quarter-final against Sweden, where multiple black players, including teammate Lauren James, were targeted online. Carter expressed relief when non-black teammates also missed penalties in the shootout, fearing James would have faced "astronomical" racist abuse if she had been the only one to miss. The abuse made Carter feel small and uncertain, affecting her confidence and prompting her to step away from social media during the tournament. Despite the challenges, Carter played in the final where England defeated Spain on penalties to win their second consecutive European Championship. The Football Association has been working with police to identify those responsible for the racist abuse, and the England team chose to stop taking the knee before matches in response to Carter's experiences. Carter credited the support from teammates, fans, and family as vital in helping her overcome the emotional toll of the abuse and perform on the pitch.