The UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 is nearing its conclusion, with only four teams left in the hunt for the trophy—including England, whose defender Jess Carter has become the target of racial abuse. In response to the situation, FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement condemning the abuse and offering support.
The Lionesses secured a semifinal berth following a 2–2 draw with Sweden, ultimately advancing via a dramatic penalty shootout. Days later, on Sunday, Carter released a statement addressing the abuse she has received during the tournament.
“From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse. 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. As a result of this I will be taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to deal with,” part of his statement released on her social media read.
The 27-year-old has started all four matches for England this summer and has been a key figure since the team’s victories at EURO 2022 and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In a show of solidarity, the Lionesses announced they will no longer take the knee before matches, stating: “It is clear we—and football—need to find another way to tackle racism.”
Infantino’s response to Carter’s statement
Carter’s message quickly reached the highest levels of international soccer. On Sunday evening, FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a public statement expressing support for the England defender.
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“I am deeply saddened to see the online abuse directed at England’s Jess Carter during the ongoing Wome’s EURO tournament. There is no place for racism in football or in society,” his statement started.
“Through FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service, we have helped tackle such abuse across multiple tournaments… In this instance, we will be offering our support with any further action required, as well as sharing data for appropriate action to be taken against any perpetrators,” wrote part of his statement.
England will now face Italy in the semifinal on Tuesday, with a spot in the final on the line. On the other side of the bracket, Germany and Spain will battle for the second ticket to the title match. The Women’s EURO 2025 final is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
