The England Lionesses have announced they will no longer take a knee before their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-final match against Italy, opting instead to stand in solidarity with defender Jess Carter, who has been subjected to racist abuse online.
Online Abuse Targets Lioness Jess Carter
England defender Jess Carter recently spoke out after receiving a wave of racist abuse online. This unfortunate incident echoes similar targeting of male England players after the Euro 2020 final.
Carter, a 27-year-old full-back who has played in all four of England’s Euro 2025 matches, posted a statement expressing her hope that her speaking out would make others “think twice” before sending such messages.
“Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don’t agree or think it’s ok to target someone’s appearance or race,” Carter stated. She emphasized her focus remains on helping the team and fostering positive change.
FA Condemns Abuse, Involves Police
The Football Association (FA) swiftly condemned the racist abuse aimed at Carter. FA CEO Mark Bellingham confirmed they immediately contacted UK police, who are now working with social media platforms to identify those responsible for the “disgusting racism.”
“Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs,” Bellingham affirmed. The FA is committed to ensuring those behind this hate crime are brought to justice.
England Squad Changes Anti-Racism Stance
In a powerful joint statement, the England Lionesses announced their decision to stop taking the knee. This gesture, used in all four previous Euro 2025 games, has been a symbol against racism and police brutality.
“It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism,” the team declared. They emphasized that players representing their country should not be treated differently due to their skin colour.
The squad stressed that “those behind this online poison must be held accountable,” signaling a shift in their approach to combating online hate.
Wider Reactions and Ongoing Concerns
The incident has garnered widespread support for Carter and condemnation of the abuse. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voiced his support, stating, “There is no place for racism in football or anywhere in society.”
The situation has also reignited discussions about the effectiveness of current anti-racism measures. Fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze recently questioned if taking the knee still carries the same impact, especially if players continue to face such abuse.
Past incidents, such as the targeting of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka after Euro 2020, highlight a recurring problem. Police investigations led to arrests in those cases, yet the issue persists.
Global Support for Jess Carter
Support for Jess Carter has poured in from various corners of the football world. Her current club, Gotham FC in the USA, issued a statement expressing their heartbreak and outrage, calling Carter a “role model, a leader and a valued part of our Gotham FC family.”
The NWSL Players Association in the USA also strongly denounced the racist abuse, asserting, “We will not allow abuse of any kind to be normalised, minimised, or ignored.” UEFA and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have also condemned the incident, reinforcing that “No player should be discriminated against in any way.”
- The England Lionesses will no longer take a knee before matches at Euro 2025.
- This decision is in direct response to racist online abuse directed at defender Jess Carter.
- The team, FA, and broader football community are seeking new and more effective ways to combat racism.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of tackling online racism in sports and the growing demand for accountability and stronger action.
The user wants me to rewrite a news article about the England women’s football team deciding not to take the knee.
I need to follow a specific HTML format:
– `
– A short introductory paragraph summarizing the article.
– Multiple section headings using `
` or `
` tags.
– Clear, conversational tone.
– Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences).
– An optional key takeaways list (`
- `).
– Fully HTML-formatted output.
– Length between 300-600 words.
– No title, h1, emojis, or markdown formatting.
Let’s break down the content and plan the sections:
1. **Intro**: England Lionesses decide not to take the knee in Euro 2025 semi-final in solidarity with Jess Carter, who faced racist abuse.
2. **The Abuse Against Jess Carter**: Details of the online racist abuse Jess Carter received after a match. Her statement about hoping it makes people think twice.
3. **FA and Police Involvement**: How the Football Association responded, contacting police, and their statement condemning the abuse.
4. **The Lionesses’ Stance**: The team’s joint statement explaining their decision to stop taking the knee and seeking other ways to combat racism.
5. **Wider Reactions and Past Incidents**: UK PM’s reaction, comparison to men’s team abuse in Euro 2020, Lucy Bronze’s comments on the effectiveness of the gesture.
6. **Support from Clubs and Associations**: Support from her club Gotham FC, NWSL Players Association, UEFA, and FIFA President.
7. **Key Takeaways (Optional but useful here)**:
* England Lionesses forgo ‘taking the knee’ for the first time in Euro 2025.
* Decision is in solidarity with Jess Carter after racist online abuse.
* Calls for more effective action against racism in football.
Constraint Checklist:
1. Short introductory paragraph: Yes
2. Multiple section headings (h2/h3): Yes
3. Clear, conversational tone: Yes
4. Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences): Yes
5. Optional key takeaways list (ul/li): Yes
6. Fully HTML-formatted: Yes
7. Length (300-600 words): Will aim for this during writing.
8. No title/h1: Yes
9. No emojis: Yes
10. No asterisks/markdown: Yes
Confidence Score: 5/5
Mental Sandbox:
– I’ll start with the introductory paragraph.
– Then a section on Jess Carter’s experience.
– Followed by the FA’s response and the team’s collective decision.
– Expand on wider reactions and the ongoing debate about anti-racism gestures.
– Conclude with the broader support for Carter.
– I’ll ensure each paragraph is concise.
– Check word count as I go.
Refinement: I should ensure the flow is logical, starting from the incident, then the immediate team response, then wider implications and support. The “why” is central to the article, so I’ll make sure that’s clear early on.
The article mentions Jess Carter is 27 and played in all four matches. Also played for 49 matches for England and was part of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. I can weave these details in naturally.
The fact that she plays for Gotham FC and their statement is also relevant.
Let’s start drafting.
The England Lionesses have announced they will no longer take a knee before their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-final match against Italy, opting instead to stand in solidarity with defender Jess Carter, who has been subjected to racist abuse online.
Online Abuse Targets Lioness Jess Carter
England defender Jess Carter recently spoke out after receiving a wave of racist abuse online. This unfortunate incident echoes similar targeting of male England players after the Euro 2020 final.
Carter, a 27-year-old full-back who has played in all four of England’s Euro 2025 matches, posted a statement expressing her hope that her speaking out would make others “think twice” before sending such messages.
“Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don’t agree or think it’s ok to target someone’s appearance or race,” Carter stated. She emphasized her focus remains on helping the team and fostering positive change.
FA Condemns Abuse, Involves Police
The Football Association (FA) swiftly condemned the racist abuse aimed at Carter. FA CEO Mark Bellingham confirmed they immediately contacted UK police, who are now working with social media platforms to identify those responsible for the “disgusting racism.”
“Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs,” Bellingham affirmed. The FA is committed to ensuring those behind this hate crime are brought to justice.
England Squad Changes Anti-Racism Stance
In a powerful joint statement, the England Lionesses announced their decision to stop taking the knee. This gesture, used in all four previous Euro 2025 games, has been a symbol against racism and police brutality.
“It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism,” the team declared. They emphasized that players representing their country should not be treated differently due to their skin colour.
The squad stressed that “those behind this online poison must be held accountable,” signaling a shift in their approach to combating online hate.
Wider Reactions and Ongoing Concerns
The incident has garnered widespread support for Carter and condemnation of the abuse. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voiced his support, stating, “There is no place for racism in football or anywhere in society.”
The situation has also reignited discussions about the effectiveness of current anti-racism measures. Fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze recently questioned if taking the knee still carries the same impact, especially if players continue to face such abuse.
Past incidents, such as the targeting of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka after Euro 2020, highlight a recurring problem. Police investigations led to arrests in those cases, yet the issue persists.
Global Support for Jess Carter
Support for Jess Carter has poured in from various corners of the football world. Her current club, Gotham FC in the USA, issued a statement expressing their heartbreak and outrage, calling Carter a “role model, a leader and a valued part of our Gotham FC family.”
The NWSL Players Association in the USA also strongly denounced the racist abuse, asserting, “We will not allow abuse of any kind to be normalised, minimised, or ignored.” UEFA and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also condemned the incident, reinforcing that “No player should be discriminated against in any way.”
- The England Lionesses will no longer take a knee before matches at Euro 2025.
- This decision is in direct response to racist online abuse directed at defender Jess Carter.
- The team, FA, and broader football community are seeking new and more effective ways to combat racism.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of tackling online racism in sports and the growing demand for accountability and stronger action.
– Clear, conversational tone.
– Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences).
– An optional key takeaways list (`
- `).
– Fully HTML-formatted output.
– Length between 300-600 words.
– No title, h1, emojis, or markdown formatting.Let’s break down the content and plan the sections:
1. **Intro**: England Lionesses decide not to take the knee in Euro 2025 semi-final in solidarity with Jess Carter, who faced racist abuse.
2. **The Abuse Against Jess Carter**: Details of the online racist abuse Jess Carter received after a match. Her statement about hoping it makes people think twice.
3. **FA and Police Involvement**: How the Football Association responded, contacting police, and their statement condemning the abuse.
4. **The Lionesses’ Stance**: The team’s joint statement explaining their decision to stop taking the knee and seeking other ways to combat racism.
5. **Wider Reactions and Past Incidents**: UK PM’s reaction, comparison to men’s team abuse in Euro 2020, Lucy Bronze’s comments on the effectiveness of the gesture.
6. **Support from Clubs and Associations**: Support from her club Gotham FC, NWSL Players Association, UEFA, and FIFA President.
7. **Key Takeaways (Optional but useful here)**:
* England Lionesses forgo ‘taking the knee’ for the first time in Euro 2025.
* Decision is in solidarity with Jess Carter after racist online abuse.
* Calls for more effective action against racism in football.Constraint Checklist:
1. Short introductory paragraph: Yes
2. Multiple section headings (h2/h3): Yes
3. Clear, conversational tone: Yes
4. Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences): Yes
5. Optional key takeaways list (ul/li): Yes
6. Fully HTML-formatted: Yes
7. Length (300-600 words): Will aim for this during writing.
8. No title/h1: Yes
9. No emojis: Yes
10. No asterisks/markdown: YesConfidence Score: 5/5
Mental Sandbox:
– I’ll start with the introductory paragraph.
– Then a section on Jess Carter’s experience.
– Followed by the FA’s response and the team’s collective decision.
– Expand on wider reactions and the ongoing debate about anti-racism gestures.
– Conclude with the broader support for Carter.
– I’ll ensure each paragraph is concise.
– Check word count as I go.Refinement: I should ensure the flow is logical, starting from the incident, then the immediate team response, then wider implications and support. The “why” is central to the article, so I’ll make sure that’s clear early on.
The article mentions Jess Carter is 27 and played in all four matches. Also played for 49 matches for England and was part of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. I can weave these details in naturally.
The fact that she plays for Gotham FC and their statement is also relevant.Let’s start drafting.
The England Lionesses have announced they will no longer take a knee before their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 semi-final match against Italy, opting instead to stand in solidarity with defender Jess Carter, who has been subjected to racist abuse online.
Online Abuse Targets Lioness Jess Carter
England defender Jess Carter recently spoke out after receiving a wave of racist abuse online. This unfortunate incident echoes similar targeting of male England players after the Euro 2020 final.
Carter, a 27-year-old full-back who has played in all four of England’s Euro 2025 matches, posted a statement expressing her hope that her speaking out would make others “think twice” before sending such messages.
“Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don’t agree or think it’s ok to target someone’s appearance or race,” Carter stated. She emphasized her focus remains on helping the team and fostering positive change.
FA Condemns Abuse, Involves Police
The Football Association (FA) swiftly condemned the racist abuse aimed at Carter. FA CEO Mark Bellingham confirmed they immediately contacted UK police, who are now working with social media platforms to identify those responsible for the “disgusting racism.”
“Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs,” Bellingham affirmed. The FA is committed to ensuring those behind this hate crime are brought to justice.
England Squad Changes Anti-Racism Stance
In a powerful joint statement, the England Lionesses announced their decision to stop taking the knee. This gesture, used in all four previous Euro 2025 games, has been a symbol against racism and police brutality.
“It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism,” the team declared. They emphasized that players representing their country should not be treated differently due to their skin colour.
The squad stressed that “those behind this online poison must be held accountable,” signaling a shift in their approach to combating online hate.
Wider Reactions and Ongoing Concerns
The incident has garnered widespread support for Carter and condemnation of the abuse. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voiced his support, stating, “There is no place for racism in football or anywhere in society.”
The situation has also reignited discussions about the effectiveness of current anti-racism measures. Fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze recently questioned if taking the knee still carries the same impact, especially if players continue to face such abuse.
Past incidents, such as the targeting of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka after Euro 2020, highlight a recurring problem. Police investigations led to arrests in those cases, yet the issue persists.
Global Support for Jess Carter
Support for Jess Carter has poured in from various corners of the football world. Her current club, Gotham FC in the USA, issued a statement expressing their heartbreak and outrage, calling Carter a “role model, a leader and a valued part of our Gotham FC family.”
The NWSL Players Association in the USA also strongly denounced the racist abuse, asserting, “We will not allow abuse of any kind to be normalised, minimised, or ignored.” UEFA and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has also condemned the incident, reinforcing that “No player should be discriminated against in any way.”
- The England Lionesses will no longer take a knee before matches at Euro 2025.
- This decision is in direct response to racist online abuse directed at defender Jess Carter.
- The team, FA, and broader football community are seeking new and more effective ways to combat racism.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of tackling online racism in sports and the growing demand for accountability and stronger action.
