ZURICH — Lucy Bronze said the Lionesses are “sad” and “angry” about the racist abuse Jess Carter has been subjected to and hopes their decision to no longer take the knee before matches will resonate “around the world.” England defender Carter announced on Sunday that she would be stepping back from social media due to the racial abuse she has experienced during Euro 2025. The Football Association’s CEO, Mark Bullingham, has denounced the abuse and said the FA has forwarded the case to the UK police for additional inquiry.
“I think to be honest a lot of players have known that this has always been an issue in football but for Jess especially to [talk about it] … we all know her as a person and she’s so strong and so tenacious, so she almost doesn’t want to put out anything she’s going through on someone else,” Bronze said. “To hear her talking about it yesterday, we’re all just so disappointed in so-called fans writing out these messages.
“For Jess herself, she probably wouldn’t put it out to the world but it’s obviously difficult for her to deal with. All the players, the FA, and the staff are here to support her. We had meetings last night about it and we’re all in full support of Jess and any players experiencing racial abuse in this tournament. We know it’s not just Jess. It’s disappointing that in this day and age, we still have to address these issues while seeing one of our own go through it.”
Bronze shared that the team gathered to discuss what collective action to take after previously sending an anti-racism message through taking the knee. However, they will now stand as a statement instead. “It was driven by the group — obviously certain individuals more than others,” Bronze explained. “We feel as a collective, is the message [of taking the knee] as strong as it used to be?
“It’s about making another statement to say that racism is still a significant problem that needs addressing. This is a small step towards creating a larger change. We are aware that those in higher positions have the power to make real changes. We know we’re not helpless as players, and our voices can make an impact around the globe. We take pride in using our platform to make a difference. The sentiment of taking a knee versus standing will definitely be felt around the world.”
Bronze noted how the team feels “sad” and “angry” about what Carter is experiencing. “We all understand that any player of color representing England has faced racist abuse. That’s a sad reality,” Bronze said. “There’s a lot of anger that we have to confront this. We’re sad and angry that our teammates are enduring this. We don’t want anyone, including Jess, to have to endure this. We believe that every player wearing an England shirt should feel courageous. Our emotions are filled with both sadness and anger.”
“We’re open to criticism, but we will not tolerate abuse. As the sport has grown, so has the abuse. The online harassment in women’s football seems to be escalating, and we’re acutely aware of this issue. There are ways to create change and solutions out there; I just don’t have the answers right now.”
Bronze also urged social media companies to take more accountability in preventing racist abuse. “Social media platforms need to be held more accountable,” she stated. “Millions of people are engaging daily, and more can be done. There needs to be accountability for individuals, whether online or in person. Abuse and racism are not acceptable. There has to be more action taken. People should not just be able to hide behind their screens and continue their lives without facing the consequences. We need to see significant improvements.”
