Footballer Jess Carter concerned over potential racist abuse towards teammate Lauren James

Jess Carter was concerned about her team-mate Lauren James potentially facing racist abuse if she missed a penalty during England's Euro 2025 quarter-final shootout against Sweden. James, who had previously been targeted with online racist abuse in 2021 and 2023, missed England's second penalty in the match.

Carter, who had also experienced online racism during the tournament, expressed relief that other players, who were white, also missed penalties, avoiding the potential racial abuse that James could have faced as the only black player to miss. Despite the misses, England's team advanced and eventually won the final against Spain in a penalty shootout.

The abuse had a significant impact on Carter, making her feel small and undervalued, affecting her confidence on the pitch. The Football Association (FA) collaborated with the police to address the "abhorrent" abuse faced by Carter and other players.

Following the abuse, Carter took a break from social media but found solace in the support from England fans. The team decided to stop taking the knee before matches, with manager Sarina Wiegman stating that the gesture was insufficient in combating racism.

The psychological toll of the abuse made Carter apprehensive when she was selected to play in the final, feeling scared of potential abuse, whether related to football or racial discrimination.