FA chief issues stern message about online abuse against players
This follows Lionesses defender Jess Carter receiving "vile" racist abuse during Euro 2025, four years after similar incidents at Euro 2020.
Bullingham expressed disappointment at the lack of progress since Euro 2020, despite previous discussions with social media platforms.
The FA is working with UK police and urges government regulator Ofcom to utilise its powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 to hold social media companies accountable.
England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy also announced she would step away from social media, citing its role in enabling abuse without consequence.
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Lucy Bronze's 'romance' with Spain star Ona Batlle after sizzling summer holiday
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BBC News
13 minutes ago
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Lionesses win would be 'huge' for women's sport
When Danni Wyatt-Hodge visits her local supermarket she is greeted by the familiar faces of the Lionesses at almost every England batter is looking to add another trophy to her ever-growing collection at the inaugural women's T20 Blast finals day at The Oval on she will also be firmly behind Leah Williamson, Chloe Kelly and co when they face Spain in Sunday's Euro 2025 final because she knows what another triumph would mean for women's sport in England and the growth of cricket within that."I said to my wife this is going to be huge if the Lionesses win the Euros again. It's going to be so good for women's football and for women's sport because it gets everyone talking about it again," Wyatt-Hodge, 34, told BBC Sport."You go into supermarkets now and all over the shelves you see the Lionesses. I hope one day it's the England cricket girls."It's going to be amazing if they can get that win on Sunday and women's sport is going to keep on going up and up." Wyatt-Hodge has watched intently from home as the Lionesses have battled their way to a second consecutive Euros will be out for revenge against Spain, who emerged victorious when the two teams met in the World Cup final two years said women's sport had "gone through the roof" since England's victory over Germany in the Euro 2022 final on home soil at England's all-time leading T20 run-scorer is hoping her side can emulate that success when England and Wales host the Women's T20 World Cup next year, and inspire the next generation of female players."It's going to be massive for us if we can win the home World Cup next summer," she said."When I first started playing cricket there was no women's cricket where I lived. I was the only girl playing in Stoke-on-Trent and now we've got a whole league, which is amazing. I just hope girls know schools where they can play in their area."The more that we're on TV, and we're winning and performing then we'll be inspiring the next generation and that's going to be massive." Wyatt-Hodge is already a World Cup winner with England and has played in the Big Bash League in Australia, as well as in packed stadiums at the Women's Premier League in represents Southern Brave in the Hundred and has enjoyed a stellar first season with Surrey, having signed a new contract earlier this side go into Sunday's finals day as favourites, taking their place directly in the final after topping the group stage by 10 will face the winner of The Blaze and Bears Women, who face each other in the semi-final, and Wyatt-Hodge is keen to finish the job on home turf."It's an honour to play for Surrey and I just really hope we get the job done after a really successful campaign, everyone has turned up at some point at the tournament and that shows the squad depth," she said."It's been amazing to play in the double-headers with the boys at some of the best grounds in the country."For me, playing at The Oval as a batter is a dream. It's so flat and the outfield is so quick."The standard of cricket has been so good. I've been around for a long time now and I've seen the standard of women's cricket go through the roof, which is amazing."
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
Football has failed to tackle racism – but big tech can kick it out
When centre-back Jess Carter stepped onto the pitch at Euro 2025 with her England teammates, she wasn't just playing a game; she was carrying a generation's hopes. But what should have been a time of celebration quickly saw people flood her with racist abuse through social media. Last Sunday, Carter revealed she was stepping away from social media because she had received appalling comments from people cloaked in anonymity. Before Tuesday's match against Italy, the Lionesses stood together shoulder to shoulder, in an active gesture of solidarity to show that racism would not be tolerated – a gesture that is likely to be repeated in Sunday's final against Spain. Racism against footballers is a story we have seen play out far too many times in the decades that Black athletes have played for British clubs. And it's one we all have a responsibility to change. However, the social media platforms where this hate spreads are enabling it, and their leaders have a particular responsibility to bear. Their systems are designed to maximise long scroll times and to prioritise outraged reactions so that they can serve people more ads and make more money – all at the cost of our mental health. When posts that spark anger and division rise to the top, abuse becomes part of the business model. No one should have to endure this just for doing their job. It is possible to do social media better. In 2022, I founded WeAre8, a social network designed to fuel positive mental health at scale. From the beginning, we built a platform grounded in respect, community, and accountability. A powerful AI shield detects and blocks abuse in content and comments before it reaches people's feeds. We've made intentional design choices that protect our community: no anonymous posting, no hate-amplifying algorithms, and no tolerance for discrimination. It works. And it proves that a safer, more respectful internet is not only possible — it's already here. And it is inspiring. Positivity and unlocked algorithms are great entertainment; we just have not experienced this as a collective until now. The beautiful thing is that all the positives of real social connection are supercharged. And all we need is to stand together and choose the alternative. Nothing speaks louder to abusers than leaving the room, as we've seen with the exodus of users from Elon Musk's X to BlueSky. The FA has a long and proud history of supporting its players and leading change in football. But in a world where governments and the American Supreme Court cannot get Meta and Mark Zuckerberg to change, I am not sure that the FA can either. Meta has no interest in changing. The power, and in my opinion, the only thing that will work, is the collective voice of its users voting with their feet and changing the platforms they use. Football is about unity, passion, and pride. But we can't claim those values if we don't realise that our own actions matter. When faced with abuse, what do we do? Scroll through the comments like a bystander or leave the room in support of the person being abused? Jess Carter shouldn't have to be resilient in the face of racism. She should be protected from it. The truth is, we don't have to accept social media as it is. And you have the power to be part of a movement of people who changed the course of history and ended racism on social media. So to every football fan, every player and all institutions who love the game: draw a line. Stop feeding the systems that fuel and monetise abuse. Stand with your players not just in the stadium – but in every space they're seen and celebrated. Social media doesn't have to be a battleground. It can and should be a home. The choice is yours.
