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

Jess Carter, an English footballer, shared her personal experience of experiencing racism and abuse during the 2025 Euro Championship. She revealed that she felt isolated and overwhelmed by the negative comments on social media, which made her doubt her abilities on the field.

Carter stated that sharing her story with her team, particularly manager Sarina Wiegman, helped her to feel more supported and relieved. The team's reaction was a turning point for Carter, who had been feeling anxious and stressed about the tournament.

Despite struggling in some matches, Carter found confidence in her abilities when she started playing, especially during the final against Spain. She felt a sense of relief when England won the game, which was a culmination of her hard work and dedication.

Carter also spoke about the pressure faced by black players representing England, particularly in penalty situations. She emphasized that there is a real issue with racism and scrutiny in football, where black players are often held to different standards than their white counterparts.

Overall, Carter's story highlights the importance of support, teamwork, and self-awareness in overcoming personal struggles on and off the field.
 
Can you believe what Jess Carter went through during that Euro Championship? 🀯 I mean, I knew racism was a problem in football, but to hear it from someone who's been in her shoes is just devastating...πŸ˜”. It's not just about the abuse on social media, it's about the pressure and scrutiny black players face when they step onto the pitch. Like, imagine having to prove yourself twice as much because of your skin color πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ.

I think it's awesome that she spoke up and shared her story with her team. It takes a lot of courage to do that, especially in a sport where confidence is already fragile πŸ’ͺ. And I love how Sarina Wiegman was there for her - that team support makes all the difference πŸ™Œ.

But seriously, this is why we need more conversations about racism and diversity in football. We can't just keep sweeping it under the rug or telling players to 'toughen up'...πŸ˜’. Jess Carter's story needs to be amplified, not silenced πŸ‘Š.
 
πŸ˜• I'm so frustrated when i see ppl just trash talkin online without thinkin about how it can affect others... like Jess Carter, she deserves so much better than that 🀬 especially after what she went thru. Its crazy how one bad game or a few nasty comments can make u doubt ur self, but the fact that her team stepped up 4 her says alot about the kinda ppl we r lookin 4 in football... we need more players like Sarina Wiegman who can offer support & guidance πŸ™Œ
 
just read this thread and gotta say, it's so wild that Jess Carter felt like she was alone in dealing with racism & abuse. I mean, who hasn't been there right? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ Like, I've had my own share of online trolls when I speak up on social issues... anyway, glad to see her finding support from the team and herself! πŸ‘ Sarina Wiegman is literally a hero for being so supportive. And yaaas, let's talk about how black players are held to different standards in football πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ it's time we address this issue once and for all. Maybe we can get some more diverse coaching staffs and players coming up through the ranks? 🀝
 
I don’t usually comment but I think it’s crazy how one negative tweet can affect someone's confidence so much... I mean, Jess Carter is a talented player and she should be proud of herself, not doubt her abilities because of what others are saying online πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ. And yeah, I can imagine being in that situation, feeling like you're walking on eggshells all the time, waiting for someone to make a wrong move or say something that'll get them roasted on social media 😬. But it's great to hear that her team was supportive and helped her through that tough time πŸ‘. And I think it's so true what she said about black players being held to different standards in football... it's not fair and we should be doing more to address racism and scrutiny in the sport πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ.
 
omg I'm so proud of Jess for speaking out about what she went through πŸ™Œ it takes a lot of courage to share that kind of stuff, especially with all those nasty comments online πŸ˜’ but she's showing everyone that she's strong and resilient πŸ’ͺ and honestly, it's amazing how much of a difference her team made in her life πŸ‘« Sarina Wiegman is literally the best! ❀️ I'm also loving that Jess is using her platform to talk about racism in football, because it's such an important issue πŸ€” we need more people like her who are willing to have tough conversations and bring attention to these problems πŸ’¬
 
πŸ€” I gotta say, it's a good thing Jess shared her experience but I think some teams should be more proactive in tackling racism & abuse on social media 🚫. Just because she told Sarina Wiegman about it doesn't mean everyone else will get the same support... or understanding πŸ˜•. It's also kinda frustrating that there's this double standard with black players, like you can be super harsh but praise them for same things πŸ‘€. Still, credit to Jess for speaking up and I hope more players do the same πŸ’ͺ
 
I'm so frustrated when I see people being bullied online! 🀬 Jess Carter's experience is totally normal and it's crazy that she had to go through that during a huge tournament like the Euro Championship. I can imagine how isolating and overwhelming it must have been, especially with all those comments on social media.

But what really got me is when she said that sharing her story with her team made a huge difference. That's what we need more of - people supporting each other! And honestly, I think it's time for us to take responsibility for our words and actions online. We can't just sit there and let others be bullied without saying anything. 🀝
 
omg i cant even imagine how tough that mustve been for her 🀯 like what if ur online presence isnt as strong as ur real life skills lol anyway i feel so bad for her she should def get a lot more support from the football community & teams gotta be more understanding about racism & stuff too 🀝
 
I feel so bad for Jess Carter πŸ€•, having to deal with all that online abuse is just not right. I mean, you're trying to do your job and represent your country, and instead of getting support, you get hate. It's like, can't we all just be kind to each other? πŸ€—

I love how she talked about sharing her story with her team and manager - that's what we need more of in sports, a supportive community around us. And I'm glad to hear she found her confidence again on the field, especially when England won that final game! πŸ†

It's also really interesting to see her bring up the issue of racism and scrutiny towards black players - it's not just about football, it's about how we treat each other as humans. We need more conversations like this to raise awareness and promote understanding. πŸ’¬
 
I'm really glad Jess Carter spoke up about her experience during the Euro Championship πŸ€—. I can imagine how tough it must have been for her to deal with that kind of abuse online. It's crazy how social media can amplify negative comments, making you feel like you're not good enough πŸ’”.

But what I love about this story is how Jess's team reacted when she shared her struggles with them πŸ™Œ. That support and understanding must have meant the world to her! It shows that having a strong team behind you can make all the difference in staying confident and focused on your goals.

It's also super important for us to acknowledge the pressure black players face, especially in high-stakes situations like penalty kicks 🀯. It's not fair to hold them to different standards just because of their skin color. We need more conversations about this kind of racism in sports and how we can create a more inclusive environment for everyone ⚽️.

Overall, Jess Carter's story is an inspiration to anyone who's ever felt the weight of online abuse or self-doubt 🌟.
 
Omg can't believe what Jess Carter went through πŸ€•πŸ˜± she's so brave for speaking out about it! The pressure to perform is huge, especially when you're a black player - it's like everyone's eyes are on you πŸ”πŸ’” I feel bad for her, but at the same time, glad she found her confidence again and helped England win that game πŸ†πŸ‘
 
I'm so worried about Jess Carter's experience πŸ€•πŸ˜”... can't believe what she went through during that Euro Championship! I mean, who deserves to be treated like that on social media? It's just not right, especially when it comes from people who are supposed to be fans of the game.

It's actually really inspiring that she felt supported by her team and manager Sarina Wiegman πŸ™ŒπŸ’ͺ... that's what we need more of in football - a culture of solidarity and understanding between players and teams. And I have to agree with Jess, it's not just about racism, but also the scrutiny black players face in penalty situations... it's like they're under a microscope all the time.

As an English football fan, I feel like we need to do more to address these issues 🀝🌟... we can't just sit back and let our players suffer in silence. We need to create a safe space for everyone to play without fear of abuse or racism. Let's get behind our players and support them every step of the way! πŸ‘πŸ’•
 
πŸ€” I feel like we've been down this road before... remember when Lucy Bronze spoke out about racism in the women's game back in 2019? πŸ† It's crazy how little progress we've made since then. πŸ™„ Carter's story is a powerful reminder that racism and abuse are still major issues in football, and it's not just the players who are affected, but also their teammates and the whole team's morale.

I'm glad she found support from her manager and teammates, though! 🀝 It's amazing how having people believe in you can turn your life around. And kudos to Carter for speaking out - it takes a lot of courage to share that kind of stuff. πŸ’ͺ But seriously, what can we do to make football a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ
 
πŸ˜” It's so sad that Jess had to go through this, feeling like she was all alone with those harsh comments online... πŸ€• But I'm so glad she found solace in sharing her story with her team! 🌟 That takes a lot of courage and it's amazing how supportive they were. πŸ’– It's also super valid what she said about the pressure on black players, especially in penalty situations - it's just not fair that they're held to different standards... πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ We need more empathy and understanding in sports, and I hope her story can help spark some change! ❀️
 
I'm so sorry to hear that Jess Carter had to go through that πŸ˜”. It's crazy how one negative comment can affect your mental health, right? 🀯 I think it's awesome that she spoke out about her experience because now we know there's a bigger issue with racism in football πŸ‘Š. As a fan, it's frustrating to see players being judged differently just because of their skin color πŸ™„. I do hope the FA takes Jess's comments seriously and works on creating a more inclusive environment for all players 🌟. And btw, England's win against Spain was epic! πŸ†
 
Ugh, this is so crazy 🀯... I mean, Jess Carter is literally my girl, but it's still wild to think that someone she looks up to (in a football sense) is going through this. Racism in football is like, such a hot mess, you know? And for her to have to deal with that on top of being an amazing player is just... no πŸ™…β€β™€οΈ. I'm glad her team was there for her though, Sarina Wiegman is literally the best πŸ‘.

But what really gets me is when she talks about black players being held to different standards. Like, it's so true πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. We need to be calling out this crap and making sure that everyone has an equal chance to shine on the field. No more double standards, please! 😑 And I love how she spoke up after they won, like, that was a total win-win situation for her and for equality in football πŸŽ‰. Anyway, it's crazy to think about how much mental health and pressure can affect athletes, especially women... we need to be supporting them more than ever πŸ’•.
 
I'm so worried about Jess Carter and all the other athletes who go through this πŸ€•. I remember when I was watching the Olympics back in 2012, there were some pretty rough comments made by some fans towards the Jamaican bobsled team... but it wasn't as bad as what she's going through, I guess.

It's just crazy how social media can be so cruel sometimes... like, what's the point of that? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ It's not like it's helping anyone or anything. And it's even worse when you're in the public eye and people are expecting you to perform. The pressure is already on enough, without having to deal with all that negativity.

I do love how Sarina Wiegman stepped in and supported Jess, though... that's what teammates are for! πŸ€— It's so important to have a good team behind you, especially when things get tough. And I'm glad she found her footing on the field towards the end of the tournament... that must've been such a relief for her 😊.
 
I feel so bad for Jess Carter, I mean she's an amazing player 🀩 but the stuff she went through during the Euro Championship is just mental 😳. I can imagine how tough it must've been to deal with all those racist comments online and the pressure of playing for England in such a big tournament. It's not easy being in her shoes, you know? πŸ™ But what really gets me is when she said that black players are held to different standards in football... it's just so true πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. We need more support systems like Sarina Wiegman's for these players, you feel? πŸ’•
 
πŸ˜”πŸ‘Ž can't believe more black women in football have to deal with this kinda crap. like, racism is already a thing but now we got these so called 'fans' who think it's okay to send abuse online πŸ“±πŸ’£. Jess Carter's story is a real eye opener, I'm glad she spoke out about it... maybe next time the FA will take some actual action instead of just releasing a statement πŸ™„. and btw, did you see how some ppl were calling for her head after that match? 😩 like, what's wrong with these people?? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ
 
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