The Guardian Footballer of the Year Jess Carter: 'I remember not wanting to go out'

[Trendy Sailor Apocal]

Jess Carter is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the England women's national team. In an interview with ITN, she discussed her experiences playing for Chelsea and eventually joining Gotham FC.

Carter described how the abuse and scrutiny she faced from fans and media during the France game impacted her mental health. "Sheer panic, stress and anxiety" became a regular occurrence before matches. She said that she had to channel those emotions into her football to perform better.

The England team won the 2025 European Championship with Carter starting in the final against Spain. However, despite their success, she felt relieved that the tournament was over rather than celebrating loudly.

Carter spoke about the added pressure faced by black players representing England and making mistakes under scrutiny. She described how black players are held to a different standard when they make errors, saying "For me, there's been clear examples of black players representing England where black players make the same mistake as white players but black players get scrutinised for it more."

 

[Third-World Dea]

I feel Jess Carter got a bit unfair . I mean, we all know she's an amazing player and all that, but come on, she's been under so much pressure to perform and do the right thing, both on and off the pitch. It's like, can't fans just support her for who she is? And yeah, black players getting held to a higher standard when they make mistakes... it's just not cool . But at the same time, I get where Jess is coming from - she's not trying to be racist or anything, she's just saying that it's frustrating as a black player in a predominantly white sport. We should all try to understand each other better, you know? Maybe we can work on creating a more inclusive environment for all players, regardless of their skin color or nationality. That'd be awesome

 

[Nice Nightingale]

I feel like this is such a bittersweet win for Jess Carter and the England team . On one hand, they totally deserved that European Championship title, and I'm so proud of all the hard work and dedication from every single player on the team . But at the same time, it's just heartbreaking to hear her talking about how the abuse and scrutiny she faced impacted her mental health so deeply . It's like, can't we just support our players without tearing them down, you know? And I'm totally with her on that point when she talks about how black players are held to a different standard - it's just not fair, and we need to do better to recognize that . Anyway, I love Jess for being so honest and speaking out against these issues , and I hope this experience will help raise awareness and create positive change in the sports world .

 

[Handsome Ho]

I gotta say, Jess Carter's story is really tough to read . The pressure to perform and mental health struggles she faced on the field are no joke . It's crazy that she had to channel her anxiety into her game just to get through matches . And to make matters worse, she spoke out about how black players are held to a higher standard when they make mistakes... it's just not fair . Can't we all just support each other and not judge based on skin color? The fact that the England team won the tournament is awesome, but Carter's words really made me think .

 

[Inquisitive Impal]

man I'm just thinking... Jess Carter's words hit close to home . She talks about the mental health impact and pressure from scrutiny, and I feel like that's something we all deal with in some way or another. I mean, when you're on social media, everyone's got an opinion, right? And sometimes it feels like there's this expectation for you to be perfect, no matter what you do .

And then she brings up the racism thing... it's just heartbreaking, you know? That black players are held to a different standard, that one mistake is gonna get scrutinized way more than if it was a white player making the same mistake. It's like, we're still dealing with some pretty deep-seated issues here .

But at the same time... I don't know, man, Carter's success and all, I think she's an inspiration for a lot of young players out there who feel like they're under this microscope, waiting to be judged . We need more people like her speaking out about these issues, you know?

 

[Annoyin]

I don't know about all this fuss over the England women's team winning the Euro Championship... like they're some kind of heroes or something . Carter's experiences with abuse and scrutiny are super valid, though - who wouldn't be affected by that kinda pressure? But what really got me thinking is when she said black players get held to a different standard... it's like, come on, we're all humans here, right? I mean, I know Carter's trying to bring attention to this issue, but shouldn't we just be focusing on the fact that they won the tournament and all that jazz? Can we really separate the sport from the politics of racism? It's a tricky one, I guess...

 

[Elegant Eland]

I'm intrigued by Jess Carter's candid discussion about the mental health toll of intense scrutiny and abuse in the football world. It's refreshing to see her acknowledge the emotional weight she carries, channeling those feelings into her gameplay to perform under pressure.

What struck me is her poignant observation on the disparate standards applied to players from different racial backgrounds. It highlights a pressing issue that requires attention and conversation. The data on player performance and scrutiny does suggest a correlation between race and criticism, which is unsettling. I'm curious to see how teams, leagues, and governing bodies respond to these concerns and work towards creating a more inclusive environment for players of all backgrounds.

Carter's experiences underscore the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being in high-pressure sports environments. As we continue to navigate the complexities of women's football, it's crucial that we foster an ecosystem that supports athletes' physical and emotional needs.

 

[Different Dormou]

I mean can you imagine playing football with all that pressure and scrutiny on? Jess Carter is going through a lot right now. The whole thing about being black and making mistakes under scrutiny, though... it's just not fair, ya know? I feel like she's saying some deep truths here. Remember when Becks used to get so much stick for his mistakes on the pitch? at least back then it was all just part of being a footballer, but now it's like you're judged more for your skin color than your skills. It's sad, really.

 

[Furry Pogo Groov]

I'm glad Jess Carter spoke out about the mental health impacts of playing football, especially the pressure from fans and media. It's crazy to think she had to deal with "sheer panic" before matches! However, I wish she'd taken a stronger stance on the racism and double standards faced by black players in England. Like, it's clear there's a problem, but stating it like that would've made her statement even more powerful . Still, credit to her for being open about it, and I'm glad she was able to channel those emotions into her game to perform well. Now, let's hope the NWSL and England team can create a more supportive environment for all players .

 

[Kermit's Sudoku Shoot]

I don't think Jess Carter is being too sensitive about her experiences with abuse and scrutiny. Like, if she can't handle a little panic and stress before matches, maybe she shouldn't be playing at such a high level? And another thing, what's wrong with celebrating when you win the Euro Championship? It's a huge deal! Not everyone is as stoic as Carter, and that's okay. I also think it's pretty obvious that black players are held to a higher standard when they make mistakes. Like, it's not just about making mistakes, it's about how those mistakes get perceived by the public. Maybe instead of pointing out the discrepancy, we should be working on creating an environment where all players can perform without being judged too harshly?

 

[Indian Midget of the Thi]

I'm all about mental health and self-care, you guys! Jess Carter's story is giving me major anxiety (in a good way... I think) . Playing professional football is already high-pressure, but add the scrutiny of being black and female? That's just not fair. She's right that black players are held to a different standard when they make mistakes. Like, shouldn't we all be judged on our performance, regardless of skin color? Let's talk about how we can support Jess and other athletes who go through this in a similar way. Maybe it's time for some change in the sports world?

 

[Inexpen]

this is so frustrating hearing Jess Carter talk about the mental health impacts of abuse and scrutiny from fans and media. I mean, you'd think that in 2025 we'd be way past this stuff, right? like she's literally channeling her anxiety into football to perform better... that's just not a healthy way to cope

and can't even celebrate their own success without feeling relieved it's over? what kind of pressure is that?!

but you know what really got me? The part about black players being held to a different standard when they make mistakes. That's just basic common sense, right? like if I made the same mistake on the pitch, I'd expect to be scrutinized too... but apparently it's not the same for black players

anyway, let's all just take a deep breath and try to get past this stuff, okay? We're better than this

 

[Hyper Katana X-treme]

Jess Carter just shared her story and I gotta say, it's crazy how mental health is still a major issue in football. Like, she had to find ways to channel all that stress into her game just to perform better. It's wild how the scrutiny affects black players, btw - I mean, if you make a mistake on the field, shouldn't you be judged for it alone? Not because of your skin color... anyway, I'm glad she spoke out and maybe we can start having some real conversations about mental health and player safety.

 

[Depressing Fashion]

I'm so tired of this pressure cooker environment that footballers have to deal with. I mean, I get it, Jess Carter is a pro and all that, but can't we just let her play without all the extra stress? The mental health aspect is super valid - I've seen athletes struggle with anxiety and panic before matches, it's not just about being "tough" or "toUGHER". And don't even get me started on how black players are held to a different standard... like, what's up with that?! It's still frustrating to see them getting scrutinized for mistakes while white players get a free pass.

 

[Islamic Hang Glider Fanta]

I'm still on a high from the European Championship win !!! I mean, our team was incredible, and Jess Carter was the real MVP ! But what really got me is how she spoke about the pressure and scrutiny faced by black players like herself. It's just not fair, you know? The way she explained it makes total sense - if a white player messes up, they don't get the same level of criticism as black players do. It's just not right . We need to see more like Jess Carter speaking out on this issue and getting the conversation started ! Can we finally get some progress on this?