The Lionesses have decided against taking the knee before their Euro 2025 semi-final clash against Italy after defender Jess Carter revealed she had been subject to online racial abuse.
The 27-year-old announced she would withdraw from social media in order to concentrate on Tuesday’s semi-final clash against Italy in Geneva.
The abuse has been condemned widely by the squad and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
“There is no place for racism in football or anywhere in society,” he said. “I stand with Jess, the Lionesses, and any players who have suffered racism, on and off the pitch.”
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|Jess Carter has stepped away from social media after suffering from racist abuse
England have taken the knee before kick-off in all of their Euro 2025 fixtures to date, but have now decided they must find another way to tackle racism.
In a statement, the squad said: “No one should have to endure such vile abuse, be that in football or any walk of life. Representing our country is the greatest honour.
“It is not right that while we are doing that, some of us are treated differently simply because of the colour of our skin.
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We stand with Jess, and all #Lionesses players past and present who have suffered racism.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 20, 2025
A message from the squad: pic.twitter.com/goaSHono5s
“Until now, we have chosen to take the knee before matches. It is clear that we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.
“We have agreed as a squad to remain standing before kick-off on Tuesday.
“We hope the game can come together to see what more can be done.”
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After the announcement, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Thank goodness the crazy gesture is over.”
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the FA, condemned the abuse with a statement, confirming the police have been contacted.
Lucy Bronze, who kick-started the Lionesses’ remarkable comeback against Sweden and scored a crucial penalty in the shootout, insisted the decision had been made by the group as a collective.
“It was driven by the group, obviously, certain individuals more than others,” she said. “I think it was just the fact that we feel, as a collective, is the message as strong as it used to be? Is the message really hitting hard?
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|Lucy Bronze questioned whether the gesture is 'as strong as it used to be'
“Because to us it feels like it’s not, if these things are still happening to our players in the biggest tournament of their lives. It’s about putting another statement out there, it’s something that still is a problem, it still needs to be put right.”
The Premier League, along with the WSL, began taking the knee as a gesture against racist abuse in 2020 after George Floyd was killed in police custody.
While the WSL continued, the Premier League stopped this in 2022 amid concerns that the meaning of the gesture had been lost. The Lionesses have also continued during their major tournaments.
The squad have been left questioning whether the gesture holds enough weight, with Carter confirming in a statement of her own that she had been suffering from abuse throughout the tournament.
Carter plays her football for Gotham FC in the United States and has made 49 appearances for England.
The 27-year-old has been a stalwart for Sarina Wiegman’s side, winning the Euros in 2022 and playing five of the six games during the Lionesses’ run to the 2023 World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain.
England continue their Euro title defence against Italy on Tuesday.