England’s Lionesses have decided to step back from the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee before matches, acknowledging the need for new strategies to combat racism in football. This comes after player Jess Carter revealed she would be reducing her social media presence due to receiving “a lot of racial abuse” during the ongoing tournament. The Football Association is collaborating with police to bring those responsible for this hate crime to justice.
Veteran defender Lucy Bronze, a key figure as England prepares for their Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, highlighted the increase in abuse players face following international success. “As the stakes get higher and the crowd grows, so does the criticism,” Bronze said. While she welcomes constructive criticism, she emphasized that abuse—especially online abuse in women’s football—has intensified and is becoming a significant issue. She stressed that although a solution is not yet clear, the problem demands urgent attention.
The team had discussions prior to the tournament about the surge in abuse, particularly in women’s football, with players like striker Alessia Russo choosing to stay off social media to avoid its damaging effects. Chelsea forward Lauren James, who has experienced racist abuse during the Women’s World Cup and the WSL season, also noted that such abuse “never really stops.”
This conversation coincides with British tennis player Katie Boulter sharing her own experiences of online abuse and threats. In response to widespread discrimination, football entities previously staged a four-day social media boycott in 2021 to address these issues.
Lucy Bronze expressed hope that their decision to stand before matches instead of taking a knee will still send a powerful message worldwide. She recognized the role of governing bodies like UEFA and FIFA in implementing change but insisted that players remain an influential voice. She also called for social media platforms to hold perpetrators accountable, emphasizing that while players enjoy connecting with fans online, they don’t depend on social media and could thrive without it.
Carter’s courage in speaking out was praised by her teammates, with Bronze highlighting how it empowers newer players and signals solidarity from the entire team and the country. Defender Alex Greenwood agreed the kneeling protest has “lost its purpose” and stressed the team’s commitment to standing against abuse, although she acknowledged the need for support from other organizations to create lasting change.
UEFA has introduced a program to monitor and report online abuse during major competitions, running since Euro 2022 and continuing through Euro 2025. Meanwhile, FIFA recently revised its disciplinary code to impose tougher sanctions on racist abuse, including longer bans and heavier fines. During the 2023 Women’s World Cup, a FIFA-led social media protection service flagged thousands of abusive comments, which were reported to platform moderators.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his sorrow over the abuse directed at Carter, stating, “No player should face discrimination. Every athlete deserves the freedom to perform at their best on the field.”
