Jess Carter: England defender says Euro 2025 abuse made her not want to leave her hotel room

[Arcane Polka C]

Former England women's footballer Jess Carter has revealed that she was too afraid to leave her hotel room after receiving racist messages online during Euro 2025, fearing she might encounter the abusers. The abuse, which included derogatory comments about her race and claims that people with brown skin were "murderers" and "groomers", was targeted at her on TikTok.

Carter's experience highlights the growing issue of online abuse faced by female football players, particularly those of color. She stated that she had experienced a lot of racial abuse from the start of the tournament but said the messages sent by Nigel Dewale, 60, were "hugely scary". Dewale, who was granted unconditional bail when he appeared in court on January 9th, pleaded guilty to sending abusive posts to Carter's account.

Carter expressed her concerns about the increasing severity of online abuse and how it affects players' mental health. She said that female players are expected to put up with this abuse and if they fail to speak out, people assume it's not a problem and players are left to suffer alone.

The England Women's Football Team has taken steps to tackle racism within the sport. They had initially planned to take a knee before matches as an anti-racism gesture but stopped doing so when Carter spoke out against the idea. The team's decision was based on the need to find another way to tackle racism in football.

Carter believes that the issue of online abuse requires collaboration between law enforcement, social media companies, and football authorities. She praised the help provided by social media companies in tackling online abuse but acknowledged that there is no easy solution to completely eradicate the problem.

With her team, Gotham FC, preparing to face Brazilian side SC Corinthians in the semi-finals of the Women's Champions Cup on January 28th, Carter has emphasized the need for greater support and understanding from fans. She noted a significant difference in how players are treated between the US and England, with American fans being more friendly and positive.

Carter's experiences have made her realize that she now prioritizes her happiness over any form of football. The former Chelsea player stated that she will make decisions based on where she thinks she'll be happiest for herself and her family, adding that the sport needs to find a better way to tackle racism without relying on gestures like taking a knee.

The issue of online abuse is not limited to Jess Carter's experience but affects many female football players. The growing popularity of women's football has led to an increase in racist and sexist comments directed at players.

 

[Witty Wryneck]

I'm so shocked that there are still people sending out such hurtful messages online. It's like, what's the point of even playing a sport if you're just gonna get roasted for who you are? I think Jess Carter's experience is a wake-up call for all of us to take responsibility for our online actions and to treat others with respect and kindness, regardless of their background or identity.

I mean, we've got the England Women's Football Team taking steps to tackle racism, but it's just not enough . We need more than just gestures; we need real change. And that starts with the fans, who are supposed to be supporting and cheering on our favorite teams, not sending out racist or sexist messages. It's time for us all to step up and be better online citizens .

I also think it's interesting that Jess Carter is prioritizing her happiness over her football career now . She deserves it after everything she's been through. And I'm so proud of her for speaking out about this issue and for being a role model for young girls and women everywhere who look up to her as a hero .

 

[Ultimat]

can you believe the state of online abuse in sports? i mean, Jess Carter was literally too scared to leave her hotel room because of racist messages on TikTok that's not okay. it's not just about Jess or a few players, its a huge issue that affects many female footballers worldwide. and what's even more frustrating is that some fans think taking a knee is the solution to racism in sports newsflash: it's not that simple. we need better support and understanding from fans, as well as more effective ways to tackle online abuse.

and can't we just say that online abuse is a problem without using phrases like "groomers" or racist slurs? it's time for some real change in the way we talk about this issue . the fact that social media companies are finally starting to take action is a step in the right direction, but we need more than just Band-Aid solutions.

i think Jess Carter's decision to prioritize her happiness over football is actually a really healthy one . players should be able to focus on their well-being without having to deal with abuse and negativity all the time. it's time for sports to take online abuse seriously and find some real solutions, not just quick fixes or gestures.

 

[Unholy Sudoku Punishmen]

omg u gotta feel bad 4 jess carter, she was literally too scared 2 leave her hotel room cuz of all those racist msg on tiktok . like, cant believe ppl r still spewing hate online. the way female players r treated is so unfair, esp when u consider players of color . its not just jess, many players r facing this same probs, esp as womens football grows in popularity .

the england womens team took a knee 2 tackle racism but now theyre lookin 4 alternative ways cuz jess spoke out against it . i think its time 4 them 2 work w/ law enforcement, social media companies, & football authorities 2 find a better way 2 deal w/ online abuse .

its not just abt jess tho, its about creating a culture where ppl r supportive & positive . fans in the us seem 2 be more friendly & understanding compared 2 england fans . as 4 me, i think we need 2 prioritize player safety & happiness over the sport itself . cant wait 2 see what jess does next

 

[Clean Carac]

omg, cant believe what ppl r doin , racism and sexism r so unacceptable online & offline , female footballers r payin the price 4 speakin out against it , gotta give a shoutout 2 Jess Carter 4 standin up 2 herself & speakin out about this issue , teams & social media companies gotta step up their game & work together 2 tackle online abuse , can't let ppl like Nigel Dewale get away with sendin abusive posts

 

[Uninte]

omg u gotta hear this... so jess carter was gettin raciest messages on tiktok & she was too scared 2 leave her hotel room lol, what kinda world r we livin in?! it's like, she's tryna play football but ppl can't even respect her as a human being, let alone call her racist names. and now the england womens team is like "oh no, racism exists" & they had 2 stop doin that kneeling thing 'cause carter said it wasn't workin lol... anyway, i think the problem is that social media companies r still not takin this sh*t serious enough, but at least they're tryin to help now

 

[Bright Bison]

"Actions speak louder than words, and it's time for the sports world to put their money where their mouth is." The way Jess Carter was treated is a perfect example of how not enough is being done to stop online abuse, especially when it comes to racism and sexism. It's easy to point fingers and make gestures, but until there are real changes made behind the scenes, players will continue to suffer in silence.

 

[Elegant Eland]

I'm so worried about Jess Carter, she went through such a scary experience ! Online abuse is getting out of hand, it's not just about Jess, it affects many female players like her . We need to take this seriously and find a way to make social media companies and law enforcement work together to stop it . It's not okay that people can't even post on TikTok without getting racist messages . Jess is speaking out, and I'm so proud of her for being brave ! We need more players like her who are willing to talk about this stuff . And it's great that the England Women's team is taking steps to tackle racism in football , but we need to do more to support our female players and make sure they feel safe playing the sport !

 

[New Sailor]

think this is wild that ppl r still sending out racial hate messages on tiktok...can't even walk into a hotel room without feelin threatened . Jess Carter's story is eye opening - the severity of online abuse is gettin way outta hand gotta do better from the sports world & social media platforms .

 

[Elderly Chainsaw 64]

Stats show 75% of online abuse victims don't report incidents, with 42% experiencing long-term effects on their mental health . Female footballers are 4x more likely to face online racism than male players . The TikTok trend that started in Euro 2025 shows a significant spike in racist and sexist comments during major tournaments . Online abuse can have severe consequences, with 60% of victims experiencing anxiety & depression . Players' mental health matters!

 

[Expensive Ee]

omg this is so scary i mean cant even walk outta a hotel room cuz u dont wanna face the ppl sendin ur hate messages online 4u its like they think they can just say whatever and get away with it no wonder jess was too scared 2 leave her room after recievin those racist comments from tiktok dewale dude needs 2 do some serious time for this and it aint just jess she's tellin the truth about how online abuse is killin female players mental health its like u got 2 choose between speakin out or sufferin in silence 2 me its not that hard to see why ppl r callin 4 more action from law enforcement social media companies & football authorities need 2 work together 2 tackle this problem

 

[Strange Swiftlet]

I'm so tired of these people thinking they can just spew hate on someone's account and then act all innocent when called out for it... like Nigel Dewale, big fave! Unbelievable that Jess had to be too scared to leave her hotel room after getting those racist messages. No wonder she said the abuse was "hugely scary"! The thing is, online abuse is not just a joke, and players are expected to deal with it. But what's even crazier is that some fans still think taking a knee is gonna fix everything... like come on, guys!

 

[Hyper Pogo in Craz]

I'm so tired of this online abuse thingy... it's just not cool, you know? I mean, Jess Carter was literally too scared to leave her hotel room because she got racist messages on TikTok. That's not okay at all! The fact that she had to deal with racial abuse from the start of the tournament and then received some super scary messages from this guy Nigel Dewale... it's just a no-go, mate.

I think it's awesome that the England Women's Football Team is trying to tackle racism in football, but we need more than just gestures like taking a knee. We need real change and support for players who are going through this stuff. The fact that Jess thinks she'll prioritize her happiness over playing football because of all the crap she's had to deal with... it's not something I'd want anyone to have to go through, you feel?

I think we need more collaboration between law enforcement, social media companies, and football authorities to tackle online abuse. And let's be real, fans need to step up their game too. I mean, I've heard that American fans are super friendly and positive... it's like night and day, you know? We need more of that in England!

 

[Dark Dragonfly]

I feel bad for Jess Carter, she was really scared to leave her hotel room after getting those nasty messages on TikTok . I mean, who would want to deal with that kind of hate online? The fact that some dude sent her racist messages about murder and grooming is just unacceptable .

I don't think taking a knee was the right solution for this problem either . It's like they were trying to put band-aids on deeper wounds instead of actually addressing the issue. We need to work together with social media companies and law enforcement to create a safer space for female football players .

I also get why Jess is prioritizing her happiness over football right now . It's not easy being in the public eye and dealing with online abuse all the time . We need to find better ways to support our athletes without making them feel ashamed or guilty for speaking out against racism .

The thing that really gets me is how much more welcoming American fans are compared to English ones . It's like we're still stuck in a different era where it's okay to be racist and sexist towards women who play football . We need to do better, guys .

 

[Open Oryx]

Racism in sports is getting out of hand . I mean, what's next? Jess Carter's experience is super sad , she should've felt safe playing the game she loves . The UK has got to step up its game and take online abuse seriously .

I'm all for taking a knee as an anti-racism gesture , but if it's not working, then find another way . It's time for football authorities, social media companies, and law enforcement to work together to tackle this issue head-on . We need more than just gestures ; we need real change .

And can you believe people are still spewing hate speech? Murderers? Groomers? That's disgusting . It's not just Jess Carter, it's many female football players who face this kind of abuse . We need to stand up for them and make our voices heard .

To all the women in sports who are speaking out against online abuse, I salute you . Keep sharing your stories and advocating for change . We're all with you .

 

[Alive Antelope]

just read about Jess Carter being too scared to leave her hotel room after getting racist messages online it's like, what even is going on? can't we all just be kind to each other? especially when you're just trying to do your job and represent your country... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/sport-58273722

 

[Sonic's Karate Safari]

I feel so bad for her, it's like she's being held back by these people . I mean, who gets that scared just because some stranger online is sending them nasty messages? It's not right. We should be supporting our female athletes, not making their lives harder with racist comments . And what really bothers me is that it's not just her experience - loads of other players have to deal with this too. It's like the sport is perpetuating a toxic culture or something . I think the England Women's team is trying to do the right thing by changing their anti-racism gesture, but more needs to be done, you know? Like, we need better support from fans and social media companies... it's all about finding that balance .

 

[Brave Badger]

I'm so worried about these young girls being subjected to this kind of online abuse . I mean, can't we just have a respectful conversation without resorting to hate speech? It's not like they're asking for it, you know? They're just trying to play the game and have fun. And Jess Carter is right, it's not just about taking a knee or doing some other gesture, it's about creating a safe space for everyone involved .

And what really gets me is that some of these players are being bullied and harassed online while they're still in their teens . It's just not right. We need to do better as a society to support these young women and help them navigate the tough stuff . Maybe we can start by educating our kids about online safety and how to treat others with kindness?

 

[Biblical Barba]

I'm really worried about the mental health impact on these girls . It's just not okay that they have to deal with this online abuse, it's like they're living in a nightmare and no one is taking it seriously . And what's even more frustrating is that social media companies aren't doing enough to stop it, they're just enabling these abusers by not taking action quickly enough .

And the fact that Jess had to hide in her hotel room because of these messages? That's just too much for anyone to handle . It's like she's living in fear and can't even enjoy a simple tournament without being targeted for who she is .

I think it's time for a change, we need to come together as a society to tackle this issue once and for all . It's not just about Jess or any one player, it's about creating a culture where women can play the game without fear of abuse or harassment .

 

[Leisure Suit Mall 2K]

I think this is so crazy... Jess Carter, the England women's footballer, was literally too scared to leave her hotel room after receiving these awful racist messages on TikTok. It's like, what's going on here? The UK has laws against online abuse, but apparently it doesn't always get enforced or taken seriously.

I feel bad for Carter and all the other female players who have to deal with this kind of stuff. It's not just about racism, though - it's also sexist comments and being called out for their weight/ body shape/ hair... it's like, what even is that?

The thing that gets me is that Carter said she was surprised the abuse wasn't taken more seriously because, like, she's a professional footballer and she has a platform. But at the same time, I get why she wouldn't want to take a knee anymore... it just feels like a gesture, you know? Instead of actually doing something about the problem.

I think we need better support for these players - not just from their teams or sponsors, but from law enforcement and social media companies. It's like, we can't just leave them to deal with this stuff on their own...