England speak out about growing abuse in women’s football as they stand with Jess Carter

Is abuse in the women’s game increasing?

Despite the rising popularity and visibility of women’s football in recent years, the game has unfortunately brought with it a surge in negative and sometimes abusive commentary, both online and offline.

England defender, Lucy Bronze expressed abuse is on the rise after teammate Jess Carter was racially targeted during this summer’s UEFA Women’s EURO. There is no room for any kind of hate in sports. But it still occurs. These actions will not be tolerated.

The Football Association, alongside England, are exploring new ways of managing this unacceptable behaviour within women’s football. Abuse of any kind is never warranted and must be addressed sufficiently. 

Jess Carter: a powerful statement

In a statement on social media, Carter revealed she would be stepping back from social media after experiencing "a lot of racial abuse" throughout the tournament.

"While 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," she said. "As a result of this I will be taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to deal with."

It has not been a smooth tournament for Carter. After a difficult experience in the opening-game defeat to France, she started every game in defence for England, from left back to centre-back. England’s defence has also been scrutinised due to their inconsistency. Carter was sent racial abuse on social media following their opening fixture.

Speaking to the media ahead of England’s semi-final against Italy, Bronze said players had to deal with more abuse since achieving international success.

"The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes, the more fans there are, but the more critics there are," said the full-back.

"We're obviously open to critics - that's why we love the sport - but we're not open to abuse. Especially in women's football, the online abuse seems to be getting worse and worse.”

"We see it more in the stadiums in men's football and online, but I think with women's football there seems to be a real target online.”

"It's something that we're very aware of. There is a way to make a change. There is a solution. I don't have the answer, but I'm sure that there is one."

The FA is working with the authorities to ‘ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice’. One way change is being encouraged is stopping the gesture of taking the knee ahead of kick off: it no longer fulfils its purpose and is deemed futile.

A growing problem in women’s football?

At the press conference, Bronze expressed that manager, Sarina Wiegman and her staff held talks before the tournament about abuse and how it had become a huge factor in the women’s game.

Several players, including Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Lotte Wubben-Moy announced they would step back from social media during the tournament. James received racial abuse during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the following Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) season for her club, Chelsea. Their comments came after tennis star Katie Boulter spoke about the death threats she received during this year’s French Open.

In 2021, sporting clubs, players and bodies staged a four-day boycott of social media platforms to tackle all forms of discrimination. The ‘show of solidarity against online abuse’ hoped to encourage companies to take a ‘stronger stance’ against racist and sexist abuse by online users. Several players posted statements, shortly before the protest began, while football clubs including the Premier League, WSL, Scottish leagues and governing bodies changed their X feed icons to a blacked-out version of their logo. Anti-discrimination charity, Kick It Out said the boycott "signified their collective anger", with football being joined by other sports.

However, players across all sports continue to be subjected to racist abuse, with some clubs forced to contact police over the level of aggression. This must be reassessed and acted upon to protect the future of women’s football and the welfare of players targeted by abuse.

The decision to stop taking the knee

England will stop the anti-discrimination gesture of taking the knee before matches. The purpose of this act is no longer evident, and therefore, new ways of tackling abuse in the sport are being explored by the Lionesses’ players and staff. Bronze hoped that by standing before kick-off, instead of taking a knee, "noise will be reached around the world".

"We know the people higher up are the ones who can ultimately put in things to make change. But I think we know we're never helpless as players" she added.

"Our voices are loud enough to be heard by people around the world, whether that's social media platforms or federations like UEFA and FIFA.”

"That's something we're very proud of as a Lionesses team, that we've created this voice and a platform so we can reach the highest of heights. We're willing to use that platform and that voice to make differences."

Bronze also called for more action from social media platforms, adding: "People need to be held accountable. “

On Carter calling the abuse out publicly, she said: "For her to speak out is so empowering to our whole team in general, especially to the likes of someone like Michelle [Agyemang] who is in her first tournament.”

"It gives people more power to be brave, stand up and speak up and see all the team-mates and the country are behind [Carter]. That means a lot in moments like this.”

"A lot of players have known that this has always been an issue in football. To hear Jess talking about it yesterday, we're all just so disappointed in so-called fans writing these messages.”

"For Jess herself, she probably wouldn't put it out to the world, but it's obviously difficult for her to go through. We know it's not just Jess as well."

England defender, Alex Greenwood believes taking the knee has "lost its purpose" and the squad want to send a message they "don't stand" for abuse. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said the team may need ‘some help’ from other organisations to drive real change.

"We hope other organisations, and other teams, have the same feeling as us and also want to do something to make a change" Greenwood expressed.

"But the responsibility lies with us in our team right now and what we've decided to do, we feel really passionate and strongly about.”

"I know we can only do so much, but what we are capable of doing, we will continue to do."

Is social media contributing to an increase in abuse?

An investigation by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), the players' union, found fifty-six abusive posts on X in November 2020. The PFA reported them to the platform but thirty-one of them were still visible, which the organisation described as "absolutely unacceptable".

Manchester United revealed their own analysis had found a 350% increase in abuse directed towards the club's players, with 3,300 posts targeting players between September 2019 to February 2021. It found 86% of those posts were racist, while 8% were homophobic or transphobic.

A BBC Sport survey of elite sportswomen found that one third of participants had suffered abuse on social media. Governing bodies also laid out the changes they wanted to see in a letter to Meta in February. The UK government previously threatened social media companies with "large fines", which could amount to "billions of pounds" if they fail to tackle abuse on their platforms.

Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, said it was committed to tackle abuse on its platforms, with Instagram announcing a tool enabling users to automatically filter out abusive messages from those they do not follow on the platform. X said it was ‘resolute in their commitment to ensure the football conversation on their service was safe for fans, players and everyone involved in the game." The company added it had removed more than 7,000 football-related tweets in the UK that violated its rules.

Thus, social media and abuse come hand in hand. For the future of the game, these media companies and governing bodies must act further to prevent sportswomen being subjected to hate online. Whilst the online world is not the only source of abuse, there is a significantly larger number of cases within women’s football via social media, than in the stadiums.

The women’s game is growing and with it are the crowds. Whilst the matchday environment encourages a welcoming atmosphere that averts hate, measures must be put in place to reciprocate this online.   

Abuse management at major tournaments

UEFA has developed an online abuse programme to monitor and report cases during major tournaments and competitions. Initially created before the 2022 Women’s EURO and continuing in 2025, the programme publishes findings at the end of each tournament. FIFA also revised its disciplinary code to introduce stronger anti-discrimination measures, including increased minimum bans and higher financial penalties.

During the 2023 Women’s World Cup, a FIFA-led social media protection service identified 7,085 abusive comments, which were reported to social media platforms. FIFA President, Gianni Infantino expressed his concern, stating he was "deeply saddened" by the abuse directed at Carter. He added: "No player should be discriminated against in any way. They should be free to be at their very best on the pitch."

Experts and advocacy groups have highlighted that while the sport’s popularity is growing rapidly, governing bodies, clubs, and social media companies need to do more to combat abuse and create a safer space for women athletes. Campaigns encouraging respectful fan behaviour and harsher penalties for offenders are gaining momentum.

As the Lionesses continue their campaign in the EURO 2025, the team’s outspokenness is shining a spotlight on a critical issue that goes beyond football — the need for equality, respect, and dignity in sport for women everywhere.