England defender Jess Carter made headlines both on and off the pitch during Euro 2025 after standing up to racist abuse. Her brave decision to speak publicly about online harassment has now resulted in the first arrest of a perpetrator.
Police Make First Arrest Following Carter’s Complaint
Lancashire Police arrested a 59-year-old man from Great Harwood on Thursday morning, 28th August 2025. He faces charges of malicious communications relating to racist messages sent to Jess Carter during the European Championship.
The suspect has been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue. Chief Constable Mark Roberts described the messages as “appalling” and commended Carter for assisting the investigation.
Roberts expects this arrest “will be the first of many over the coming months”. He emphasised that racist abuse will not be tolerated and offenders cannot hide behind social media profiles.
The UK Football Policing Unit initiated the investigation immediately after Carter reported the abuse. They collaborated with social media platforms to identify those responsible for the harassment.
Carter’s Heroic Journey Through Euro 2025
Jess Carter faced intense racial abuse from England’s opening match against France. The defender announced she would step back from social media before the semi-final against Italy.
Despite the psychological impact, Carter returned to England’s starting eleven for the final against Spain. She played the full 120 minutes and made crucial defensive contributions in England’s penalty shootout victory.
The 27-year-old admitted being “super scared” to play in the final. She credited support from fans, teammates and family for giving her courage to perform.
Jess Carter described the abuse as “violently aggressive racism” that began immediately after the France match. The messages escalated from football criticism to racial slurs about her Black heritage.
Impact on Mental Health and Performance
The racist abuse made Jess Carter feel “really small” and question her self-worth. She admitted the harassment affected her confidence before returning to the pitch.
Carter revealed feeling relieved when white teammates missed penalties in the quarter-final. She feared Lauren James would face “astronomical” racial abuse if she had been the only Black player to miss.
The defender’s family was “devastated” by witnessing the abuse directed at their daughter. The harassment created additional stress beyond normal tournament pressure.
Jess Carter wished she had spoken out immediately after the first match. She believes earlier intervention might have prevented her from suffering alone initially.
Teammates and Officials Rally Behind Carter
England’s Lionesses unanimously supported Jess Carter after her public statement about racism. They decided to stop taking the knee before matches, believing the gesture had lost its impact.
Lucy Bronze passionately defended Carter, emphasising that skin colour has nothing to do with football performance. The team provided crucial emotional support throughout the tournament.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the racist abuse and expressed solidarity with Carter. UEFA, the Football Association and Gotham FC all offered public support.
FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham vowed to ensure “those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice”. The governing body immediately contacted UK police when learning about the abuse.
Outstanding Professional Career Achievements
Jess Carter has established herself as one of women’s football’s premier defenders since her 2017 England debut. She has earned 51 caps and scored two goals for her country.
The Warwick-born defender won Euro 2022 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Her consistent performances earned recognition as one of the WSL’s best one-on-one defenders.
Carter won five consecutive Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea between 2018 and 2024. She also lifted multiple FA Cups and League Cups during her successful Blues career.
Jess Carter moved to Gotham FC in July 2024 and helped them win the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup. She has started all her NWSL appearances since joining the American club.
Current Season Performance and Statistics
At club level, Jess Carter has impressed for Gotham FC in the 2025 NWSL season. She has started 14 matches and accumulated 1,115 minutes of playing time.
Her defensive statistics show 62.5% duel success rate and 66.7% aerial duel success. Carter has contributed 20 interceptions and 21 clearances whilst maintaining solid passing accuracy of 86.6%.
The defender received one red card suspension earlier this season but has largely been reliable. Her consistent performances helped Gotham maintain their position in NWSL playoff contention.
Jess Carter missed England’s trophy parade celebrations to return for club duties. This commitment demonstrates her professionalism despite the challenging tournament experience.
Personal Life and Advocacy Work
Jess Carter has been in a relationship with fellow professional footballer Ann-Katrin Berger since 2017. They announced their engagement in May 2024.
The defender serves as co-founder and ambassador for an all-female football academy. She works alongside former Barcelona and Arsenal youth player Judan Ali on this project.
Carter holds both British and American citizenship through her mixed-race heritage. Her African American father and British mother have supported her throughout the racism ordeal.
Jess Carter hopes her courage in speaking out will inspire others facing similar abuse. She wants young girls to believe they can pursue their dreams regardless of skin colour.
Looking Ahead to Future Competitions
Despite the challenging Euro 2025 experience, Jess Carter aims to represent England at the 2027 World Cup. She remains committed to her international career whilst focusing on club success with Gotham.
The defender plans to continue her coaching badges despite admitting she doesn’t “love” coaching yet. She remains open to suggestions about post-playing career paths.
Carter’s brave stand against racism has already produced tangible results with the first arrest. Her actions may encourage other players to report similar abuse without fear.
Jess Carter represents hope for progress in combating racism within football. Her courage demonstrates that speaking out can lead to meaningful change and accountability.
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