England defender Carter targeted by racist abuse during Euro 2025
"Whilst every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don't agree or think that it's ok to target someone's appearance or race," Carter, who is Black, posted in a lengthy Instagram statement. "I am taking this measure to protect myself in a bid to keep my focus on helping the team anyway I can.
"Hopefully speaking out will make the people writing this abuse think twice so that others won't have to deal with it."
The 27-year-old has started all four of England's games at the tournament. England play Italy in the semifinals on Tuesday in Geneva.
FA CEO Mark Bullingham condemned the abuse.
"Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs," Bullingham said in a statement. "We strongly condemn those responsible for this disgusting racism."
Bullingham said the FA has been in contact with UK police, who are in touch with the relevant social media platform.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise
Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung
Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger
Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle
Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations
Singapore 2-in-1 airport police robot on trial can patrol and serve as PMD with ride-hailing feature
Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi
Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school
"We are working with police to ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice," he said.
"Regrettably this is not the first time this has happened to an England player, so we had measures in place to allow us to respond quickly and where possible provide information to support any potential police action."
While the England women traditionally take a knee before matches -- including their four matches so far in Switzerland, as a symbolic gesture against racism -- they will not do so on Tuesday.
"It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism, we have agreed as a squad to remain standing before kickoff on Tuesday," they said in a statement.
"We stand with Jess and all Lionesses players past and present who have suffered racism," the team said. "Representing your 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."
Europe's soccer governing body UEFA said: "Abuse and discrimination should never be tolerated, whether in football or society, in person or online.
"We stand with Jess," UEFA said in a statement. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Lungs of the Earth': The Indonesians fighting for peatland
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Indonesia has more tropical peatland than any other country, but it is also quickly losing this poorly understood ecosystem. LEBUNG ITAM, Indonesia - Indonesian environmentalist Pralensa steered his boat through a shallow canal in the marshy peatlands near his village, an environment he fears may soon disappear. His oar stirred up rich organic material in the brackish water, evidence of the layers of plant matter that make peatlands vital carbon dioxide stores and key to biodiversity. Indonesia has more tropical peatland than any other country, but it is also quickly losing this poorly understood ecosystem. That affects local residents and wildlife but also has global impacts, because converted peatland can release vast quantities of planet-warming carbon dioxide. Just 18.4 per cent of Indonesia's peatlands remain 'undisturbed', a 2023 study found, with vast tracts now palm oil or timber plantations. Mr Pralensa worries a similar fate awaits much of the swampy peatland around his village of Lebung Itam in South Sumatra. Locals say palm oil firm Bintang Harapan Palma has already begun digging canals to drain the peatlands for planting. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HDB resale price growth moderates in Q2, more flats sold Singapore Etomidate found in blood samples of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Asia Cambodia border clash heaps pressure on embattled Thai PM Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Singapore Prison officer accused of taking bribes to smuggle nude photos, prescription drugs to inmate Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly 'We protested ... we told them this is a community-managed area,' said Mr Pralensa, who, like many Indonesians, uses a single name. 'According to them, they already have rights to this land.' Bintang Harapan Palma did not respond to AFP's request for comment. Peatlands are an in-between place – seemingly neither water nor land – an environment that slows plant decomposition and forms carbon-rich peat. Covering just three per cent of the world's surface, they hold an estimated 44 per cent of all soil carbon. Indonesia's peatlands are home to endangered orangutans, as well as economically important fish species. They also help prevent flooding and drought, lower local temperatures and minimise saltwater intrusion. For Mr Pralensa, peatlands are no less than a 'spiritual bond'. 'From the moment that we exist, that we're born, we are aware of this peatland. We encounter it every moment of every day,' the 44-year-old said. Catastrophic fires Indonesia's peatland has long been converted for agriculture, drained of the water that is its lifeblood, with severe consequences. Dry peat is highly flammable, and fire can smoulder underground and reignite seemingly at will. Peatlands were a leading cause of Indonesia's catastrophic 2015 fires, which burned through an area about 4.5 times the size of Bali and cost the country some US$16.1 billion (S$20.6 billion), or about two per cent of GDP, according to the World Bank. The blazes sparked calls for action, including a moratorium on new peatland concessions. Government regulations adopted the following year banned several damaging activities, including burning and drying out peatland. The environment ministry did not respond to questions submitted by AFP. 'Weak oversight and law enforcement in Indonesia allow the exploitation of peatlands to continue,' said Mr Wahyu Perdana at peatland preservation NGO Pantau Gambut. And fires still happen 'almost every year', said Mr Rohman, a farmer in Bangsal village, around two hours west of Lebung Itam. Like Lebung Itam, it is ringed by plantations on converted peatland. Bangsal residents could once rely on vast wetlands to feed their distinctive buffalo, which dive beneath the water to graze. Fish traps supplied additional income, along with small rice paddies. Now, buffalo are hemmed in by plantations, while fish are affected by walls that keep the plantations dry, and fertilisers and herbicides flushed out by rain. 'We must protect nature' Plantation infrastructure prevents water from subsiding properly when the rains end, complicating rice planting And then there is the seasonal haze. 'It's difficult to do anything' when it descends, said Mr Rohman, with visibility sometimes dropping to just a few metres. Everything from 'economic activity to children playing and learning is very disrupted'. Mr Rohman, 53, was one of several plaintiffs from Bangsal and Lebung Itam who filed a landmark lawsuit over the fires. They argued three companies with nearby timber plantations on peatland bore legal responsibility for the health, economic and social impacts of local fires. Filing the suit was not an easy decision, said Bangsal schoolteacher Marda Ellius, who alleges a company named in the case offered her money and help for her family if she withdrew. 'I kept thinking that, from the beginning, my goal here was for the environment, for many people,' she said. 'I chose to continue.' AFP could not reach the companies named in the suit. Major firm Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), which buys from the three companies, did not respond. In July , a local court rejected the suit, saying the plaintiffs lacked standing. 'The pain cannot be described,' plaintiff Muhammad Awal Gunadi said of the ruling. 'It was tough because we were facing corporations. The group has pledged to appeal, and Bangsal's villagers are lobbying local government for a new designation to protect their remaining peatland. Healthy peat is 'like the lungs of the Earth,' said Bangsal resident and buffalo farmer Muhammad Husin. 'Hopefully, if we protect nature, nature will also protect us.' AFP
Independent Singapore
4 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Singapore is set and ready for AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers
Photo: Freepik The Singapore Under-19 Women's National Team is now ready to compete in the AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for August 6 to 11, 2025. The national team is in Group B, where the girls will battle against Vietnam, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Hong Kong, China, in the qualifying matches to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam. As part of their preparations, they are at a training camp in Malaysia until July 31. This experience will play an important part in the team's improvement as they intensively train together for the tournament. Several athletes have been training ahead of time, and the initial outcomes are encouraging. Head coach Fazrul Nawaz said: 'I'm really looking forward to the chemistry that naturally builds when players spend extended time together… It's not just about football – we get to build trust, challenge each other, and create a shared identity. 'I've been encouraged by the energy and focus in the early sessions. Tactically, there's a willingness to adapt and take in information quickly, which is vital at this level. But beyond that, it's the spirit – the way they push each other, the communication, the way they celebrate small wins.' The coaching team is doing its best to improve how it handles the squad. They are now concentrating not only on the strategic preparations of the players but also on developing their mindset and instilling the standards needed to compete at this level. Coach Fazrul declared: 'You can sense their hunger and a growing belief, and that's a great starting point… This group has potential, and the goal is to translate that potential into consistent performances.' 'For the girls, I want them to gain confidence, take ownership of their roles, and show that they can compete.' On social media, Seri Nurinsyirah, the defender of the Singapore team, said: 'I feel very honoured, because I got called up at a very young age (16 years old), so it's such a good experience to play at this level, and I can learn from there.' 'I feel very excited, at the same time nervous, because Asian opponents tend to be stronger, and very competitive, so it will be a good game for us,' she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAS (@fasingapore) Now, Fazrul aims to finish the tournament with a team that is more united, more disciplined, and more self-assured. He said: 'If we come out of it fitter, sharper, tighter as a unit, and hungry to compete, I'd consider that a success.' () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
England manager Sarina Wiegman not for sale, says FA's Mark Bullingham
England manager Sarina Wiegman (centre) celebrating with her players after their Euro 2025 semi-final match win against Italy on July 22. ZURICH, Switzerland - England plan to hang on tightly to coach Sarina Wiegman, with Football Association executive Mark Bullingham saying she is not for sale at any price. Wiegman, who is under contract with England until 2027, will coach the Lionesses at a third consecutive major tournament final on July 27, at Euro 2025. Asked if it would be difficult to retain the 55-year-old after another successful tournament, and if there was any price that would sway the FA to let her leave, Bullingham said: 'No price at all.' 'We are committed to her until 2027, she's committed to us, and I know that her focus, hopefully after a success on Sunday, will shift quite quickly to '27,' he said, at a media briefing on July 24 at England's base camp. Wiegman is the first manager in either the men's or women's game to feature in five successive major finals, including two with the Netherlands, and Bullingham sang her praises on July 24. 'Her record of... reaching five finals is phenomenal, I don't believe anyone's been anywhere near that in the past,' he added. 'I think this could be really hard for anyone to do in the future.' Bullingham shared a hug with Wiegman after England squeezed through their quarter-final against Sweden, scoring two late goals and then coming out on top in a penalty shootout that featured more misses than goals. Asked what the two shared in that moment, Bullingham laughed and said that it was not 'anything that can be shared here.' While Wiegman has been lauded for her remarkable record, she has also been lambasted for her steadfast selection approach during the tournament, with critics arguing for earlier substitutions. 'We've got a really special coach, and I think we should all recognise that,' Bullingham said. 'The tournament record is incredible, but I also see the work she does with the players, the relationships she builds, the connection she builds in camps are phenomenal. 'And just a cool head, and the way she transmits that on the pitch, she normally at least looks like the coolest person in the stadium. I feel she's a really special coach and we're lucky to have her.' England, along with Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, is the sole bidder to host the 2035 Fifa Women's World Cup and Bullingham hopes the team's success in Switzerland will create a groundswell of support. 'Our hope is that it will help inspire more positive momentum for that and for support for that, amongst fans throughout the country as well,' he said. 'Hopefully a lot more younger girls throughout the country who will be looking at 2035 and thinking, 'what a fantastic opportunity for me'.' Football Association executive Mark Bullingham (left) and England coach Sarina Wiegman with Britain's Prince William, during a visit by the Prince to the 'Lionesses' England base in June 2025. PHOTO: AFP England saw a boost in the numbers of girls taking up soccer after the team's Euro 2022 victory, and Bullingham, who also coaches at the grassroots level, hopes to see more girls flocking to the game after watching the Lionesses this past month. 'Our hope is that we use this tournament as another trampoline to push further for women's and girls' football,' he said. 'I've seen the impact when we do well in these tournaments, and we're definitely looking for that impact again after this one.' REUTERS
