FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed his support for English footballer Jess Carter on Sunday evening. The defender is being racially abused on social media during the European Championship in Switzerland and is therefore stopping using the platforms.
“I am deeply saddened that Jess Carter is facing racism online during the European Championship,” Infantino wrote in a statement on Instagram. “There is no place for racism in football or in society.”
The 27-year-old Carter announced on Sunday that she would temporarily stop using social media because she has been receiving many racist messages since the start of the European Championship. “I am taking this measure to protect myself and to be able to fully focus on the team,” she said.
Infantino supports Carter: “No player should be discriminated against in any way. They must have the freedom to play at their best on the field.”
Carter’s teammate Lucy Bronze also spoke out on Sunday. “Certainly in women’s football, the online hate only seems to be getting worse,” Bronze said at a press conference. “The bigger the match, the worse it gets. There needs to be a solution for this.”
English team stops kneeling against racism
Carter also received support from her other teammates and coach Sarina Wiegman. “No one should have to endure such disgusting racist expressions, not in football and not in daily life,” the national team wrote on X on Sunday.
During the European Championship, Wiegman’s team made a statement by kneeling before every game, but the ‘Lionesses’ are stopping that. “We need to find another way to tackle racism,” the English footballers said in a statement.
Carter is a starting player under Wiegman this European Championship. The wing defender of the American Gotham FC was also part of the selection during the won European Championship in 2022. Title holder England plays against Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 9:00 PM.
