England’s Jess Carter says it was her decision to return to her National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club side Gotham and therefore miss out on the Euro 2025 victory celebrations in London.
The 27-year-old defender was part of Sarina Wiegman’s England side that won a second consecutive Euros title in Switzerland this month, but while the squad celebrated with fans in London on Tuesday, Carter was already back in the U.S. preparing for Gotham’s game with Chicago Stars on Saturday.
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In a post on Instagram, Carter said she could not be prouder of her role in the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 victory. “The drive and determination this team has shown to stick together has been amazing. I can’t thank my teammates, coaches, friends and family enough for everything they have done this tournament to support me and keep me going right to the end,” the post read.
“To the fans, I heard you loud and clear these past couple of games. Your messages of support have not gone unnoticed and I am truly grateful for you all.”
But she added: “Gotham has quickly become a family and a team to me that I truly enjoy being part of so coming back to them straight away to prep for our upcoming game was a decision I made myself, which is why I wasn’t present at the celebrations back in England. Thank you to both England and Gotham for supporting me in that decision.”
NWSL club Gotham said in a statement that every player competing in major international tournaments over the past month had been offered time off following the completion of those events and confirmed that Carter made her own decision to return to New Jersey and join up with the team.
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Carter was subjected to racial abuse during the European Championship. Posting on social media before the semi-final against Italy, Carter said on social media that from the start of the tournament, she had “experienced a lot of racial abuse” and hopes raising the issues “will make the people writing this abuse think twice so others don’t have to deal with it”. England made the decision not to take the knee before the victory over Italy as mark of solidarity with Carter.
The team said their gesture, which they have been doing along with many other clubs around the world in protest of racism and police brutality after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, had lost its meaning and impact, stating ”it is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.” The gesture follows that made by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016 when he knelt during the traditional playing of the U.S. national anthem before a game, protesting against racial injustice.
Carter added in her post on Tuesday: “I’ll end this by saying hate will never win! There never has been and there never will be room for racism. Every player that puts on that England shirt does their best to represent our country at the highest level and no player or person should feel hesitant to do that because of the colour of their skin. I will continue to work with social media platforms and other organisations to find a way to make everyday society a place that is inclusive for all.”
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
England, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Euros
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