Jess Carter has spoken out about her fears that teammate Lauren James would have endured "astronomical" racist abuse had she been the only England player to miss a penalty in the Euro 2025 quarter-final shootout against Sweden. The Chelsea forward, who has previously faced online racism during her career, highlighted the added pressure on black players in the women's game, as the Lionesses advanced despite multiple misses in the tie.
Carter, who herself became a target of racist comments during the tournament, emphasized the psychological toll of such abuse. "It’s horrible to say but it’s almost like a sigh of relief when other players that weren’t black missed a penalty," she told ITV News. "The racism that would have come with LJ [Lauren James] being the only one that missed would have been astronomical." She added that the experience left her feeling "scared" of potential backlash when selected for the final against Spain, despite the team’s eventual progression.
The 2025 quarter-final shootout saw James miss England’s second penalty, joining Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood, and Grace Clinton in missing their attempts. However, the Lionesses still secured a spot in the final, where they triumphed in another penalty shootout. Carter’s comments underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Black athletes in women’s football, a topic that has gained renewed attention amid the tournament’s high-stakes environment.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham condemned the abuse as "abhorrent" and confirmed the organization had referred incidents to UK authorities. Carter, who stepped back from social media following the harassment, praised the unwavering support from England fans, calling it "meant everything." Her remarks also align with manager Sarina Wiegman’s decision to discontinue the "taking the knee" anti-racism gesture before matches, citing its limited impact.
"It makes you feel really small. It makes you feel like you’re not important, that you’re not valuable," Carter reflected on the abuse’s emotional weight. "It’s not a nice place to be. It doesn’t make me feel confident going back on to the pitch." Her family, she noted, was "devastated" by the experience, highlighting the personal and collective struggles within the squad.
As the tournament progresses, the conversation around systemic racism in women’s football continues to intensify. Carter’s candid account sheds light on the invisible battles faced by players of color, even in the spotlight of international competition.
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