Jess Carter Expresses Relief Over Penalty Misses in Euro 2022

In a candid interview with ITV News, Jess Carter shared her feelings of “relief” after three of her white England team-mates missed penalties during the UEFA Euro 2022 quarter-final shoot-out against Sweden. Carter, who faced online racism during the tournament, expressed concern that Lauren James would receive severe social media abuse if she were the only England player to miss a penalty.

During the shoot-out, Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood, and Grace Clinton also failed to convert their penalties, allowing the Lionesses to progress before ultimately defeating Spain in another shoot-out in the final. Reflecting on the intense scrutiny faced by black players, Carter stated, “It’s horrible to say but it’s almost like a sigh of relief when other players that weren’t black missed a penalty because the racism that would have come with LJ (Lauren James) being the only one that missed would have been astronomical.”

Psychological Impact of Racism

Carter revealed the profound psychological effects of the abuse she endured, which left her feeling “scared” when England head coach Sarina Wiegman informed her of her selection to play in the final. She remarked, “That’s the first time I’ve ever been scared; too scared to play.”

The combination of the high-stakes match and the potential for racial abuse weighed heavily on Carter. She explained, “I think it was a mixture of such a big game but then on top of that, I was scared of whatever abuse might come with it, whether it’s football based or whether it was going to be the racial abuse that was going to come with it because I did something wrong.”

Discussing the emotional toll of the abuse, Carter added, “It makes you feel really small. It makes you feel like you’re not important, that you’re not valuable. It makes you second guess everything that you do – it’s not a nice place to be. It doesn’t make me feel confident going back onto the pitch. My family was so devastated by it as well and so sad.”

Response from Football Authorities

The issue of online racism in football has gained significant attention, prompting responses from governing bodies. During the tournament, Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the English Football Association, condemned the “abhorrent” abuse directed at players and confirmed that it had been referred to the UK police.

Carter’s experience highlights the ongoing challenges faced by black athletes in professional sports, particularly regarding the disproportionate scrutiny and abuse they often encounter. As the conversation around racism in football continues, her insights contribute to a broader understanding of the psychological impacts of such discrimination.