England defender Lucy Bronze has spoken out on the rising levels of abuse facing players as women’s football grows in popularity, following team-mate Jess Carter’s decision to step back from social media after receiving racist abuse during Euro 2025.
Carter, who has featured in every match of the tournament, revealed she had been the target of sustained racist messages.
The Football Association has since confirmed it is working with police to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
In response, the Lionesses announced they will no longer take the knee before kick-offs, stating the gesture no longer carries the impact it once did.
“It’s clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism,” read the squad’s statement.
Speaking ahead of England’s semi-final against Italy, Bronze addressed the increasing hostility directed at women footballers, particularly online.
“The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes,” said the 33-year-old full-back.
“There are more fans, but also more critics. We’re open to criticism—that’s part of the game. But we are not open to abuse.
“Online abuse, in particular, seems to be intensifying in women’s football. Stadium incidents are more common in the men’s game, but we face constant targeting online.”
Bronze added that the team had held internal discussions before the tournament to prepare for potential abuse and reiterated that players will continue to use their platform to drive change.
“There is a solution. I don’t have it personally, but I know one exists. And we as players are never helpless. Our voices carry. Whether it’s social media companies or governing bodies like UEFA and FIFA—we know we can be heard.”
Carter’s public statement has been met with widespread support, including from club side Gotham FC, anti-racism organisations, and political figures like UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Bronze described Carter’s decision to speak out as a powerful act.
“It’s empowering. Especially for younger players like Michelle Agyemang in their first tournament—it shows them that bravery is backed by a team and a country standing behind you.”
She continued: “We’ve all known this issue exists in football. Jess speaking up makes it real again. It’s not just her—it’s a systemic problem.”
Fellow defender Alex Greenwood also spoke about the decision to stop taking the knee, suggesting the gesture no longer carries the weight it once did.
“We felt the need to take a different approach,” Greenwood said.
“We don’t stand for any kind of abuse, but we also need help. It’s not just on us—we need support from social media platforms, federations, and fans.”
She added: “We hope our actions inspire other teams and organisations to follow. We want to be part of a wider movement for change.”
UEFA continues to run its online abuse monitoring system during major tournaments, and its findings will be published after Euro 2025.
FIFA has also updated its disciplinary code, increasing penalties for racist abuse and introducing stricter bans.
FIFA’s social media protection system, which flagged more than 7,000 abusive comments during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, remains in use.
However, players like Carter and Bronze say the responsibility should also lie with the platforms hosting the abuse.
“People need to be held accountable,” Bronze concluded.
“Whether it’s fans, trolls, or tech companies—we all have a role to play in changing this culture.”
The Lionesses will face Italy in the Euro 2025 semi-finals on Tuesday as they aim to continue their campaign on and off the pitch.
