Jess Carter Comments on Penalty Shootout Relief Amid Racism Concerns
August 12, 2025, 02:50 AM ET
Jess Carter expressed a sense of “relief” knowing that Lauren James wasn’t the sole England player to miss a penalty during the shootout against Sweden, which secured England’s place in the Women’s European Championship final.
After suffering online racist abuse during the tournament, Carter was concerned that James would face severe backlash had she been the only England player to fail. Ultimately, other players, including Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood, and Grace Clinton, also missed penalties. Despite this, the Lionesses advanced and later triumphed over Spain in the final shootout.
Carter told ITN, “It’s unfortunate to say, but I felt a sigh of relief to see that non-Black players missed too. The level of racism directed at Lauren James would have been overwhelming if she were the only one.” She emphasized, “It’s not that we wish for others to fail; we simply understand the repercussions for us [the Black players] if we miss.”
Previously, players like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka endured racial abuse following missed penalties in the men’s Euro 2020 final against Italy.
Discussing the psychological impact of the abuse she received, Carter admitted to feeling “scared” when England head coach Sarina Wiegman announced that she would be starting in the final. “It was the first time I felt that fear; too terrified to play,” she shared. “The combination of the high stakes and the potential for abuse—be it related to football or racially motivated—made me anxious about the consequences of any mistakes.”
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Carter elaborated on the effect of the abuse, stating, “It diminishes your sense of worth, making you feel insignificant and unimportant. It leads to self-doubt in your actions, creating an uncomfortable mental space. My family was equally heartbroken by the situation.”
Mark Bullingham, the Football Association’s chief executive, noted during the tournament that the organization had reported the “abhorrent” abuse to the authorities in the UK.
