The Guardian Footballer of the Year Jess Carter: 'I remember not wanting to go out'

The article features an interview with Jess Carter, an English footballer who plays as a defender for Gotham FC and the England women's national team. The conversation revolves around her experiences during the 2025 Euro women's football championship.

* **The Impact of Abuse** - *Carter opens up about the emotional toll of receiving racist abuse on social media.* She explains how it affected her, both mentally and emotionally. It took a lot for me to even start talking about it but I felt like I had to speak out after the game. I didn't know what else to do.*

* **Honest Conversations with Sarina Wiegman** - *Wiegman's approachable demeanor allows for open conversations.* Carter praises her manager, stating: "I've always found it so easy to have really honest, private conversations with her."

* **A Mix of Emotions at the Final** - The England team had a tough time in the tournament. Despite the setbacks, Carter reflects on the final's atmosphere and how it affected her: "It was like a sigh of relief when Beth Mead and Grace Clinton – white players – joined James in missing penalties against Sweden." Carter explains that black players face added scrutiny for errors that their white counterparts might make.

* **New Beginnings** - The interview concludes with Carter's thoughts on the future and her perspective on football. She says, "Football is not my everything like it is for other people." She enjoys playing because she loves the game but isn't willing to sacrifice her happiness for its sake.

The conversation highlights the personal struggles and growth that Jess Carter has experienced during this challenging time in England's women's soccer. Her courage in speaking out against racism helps raise awareness about an issue that many players face, and it shows the dedication to addressing these problems in football.

Through her journey, Jess Carter offers a glimpse into the emotional challenges faced by female footballers, particularly those from minority backgrounds. She also showcases the importance of honest conversations with mentors like Sarina Wiegman, who provides guidance and support throughout tough times.

By sharing her story, Jess Carter helps create a more inclusive and empathetic environment in sports, encouraging others to speak up against racism and promote positive change.
 
I'm not sure about this whole thing πŸ€”... I mean, on one hand, it's awesome that Jess Carter is speaking out about the racist abuse she faced on social media and how it affected her mental health πŸ˜”. It's a really tough topic to tackle, but someone's gotta do it.

But at the same time... I don't know if I agree with the whole "white players get away with mistakes" thing πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ... I mean, isn't that just another way of saying that racism is still present in our society? And isn't that what we're trying to address here?

And can we please talk about how great Sarina Wiegman is as a manager? πŸ™Œ She seems like an amazing person who genuinely cares about her players. I love that she's having honest conversations with Carter and helping her grow both on and off the field.

But... I'm not convinced that football is going to change overnight πŸ’ͺ. It's a big, complex issue that takes time to fix. So, while I appreciate Jess Carter's bravery in speaking out, I don't know if we can just declare victory over racism and abuse πŸ˜’.

Still, it's been really inspiring to see Carter's growth and resilience throughout this whole experience 🌱. And I love her attitude towards the game: she knows that football is just one part of her life, not everything πŸ’•. That's something we can all learn from!
 
OMG, I'm literally shook by the amount of abuse Jess Carter had to deal with during that Euro championship 🀯. It's wild how something as intense as football can bring out such toxic behavior on social media. The fact that she felt like opening up about it is already a huge step forward πŸ’ͺ.

I love how Sarina Wiegman creates this safe space for honest conversations, it's so refreshing to see a manager being super approachable and non-judgmental πŸ€—. And can we talk about the final match? The atmosphere was insane, but at the same time, it's heartbreaking to think about how black players face added scrutiny when making mistakes πŸ˜”.

Anyway, I'm totally here for Jess Carter's growth and willingness to speak out against racism πŸ’―. It's amazing that she's not willing to sacrifice her happiness for the sake of football, let alone her mental well-being πŸ€—. This conversation is a total game-changer for the sports world, and I'm all about it πŸ‘.
 
can you believe what happened to Jess Carter during the Euro championship? she's literally been through so much emotional pain just because of racist abuse online πŸ€• it's crazy how something that's supposed to be a game can turn into a toxic experience like that, especially when it's directed at someone who loves their job πŸ˜”
 
cant believe how many ppl r still gettin away w/ racist abuse on social media lol 🀯 its like they think their words dont affect nobody... but we all know thats not true πŸ™…β€β™€οΈ Jess Carter is a total boss for speakin out about it tho πŸ’ͺ and Sarina Wiegman is def one of the best managers out there, shes got that whole "approachable" vibe goin on 😊 gotta give props to her for makin it easy for Jess to open up about her struggles πŸ€—
 
can't believe what's happening in football right now 🀯 the way Jess Carter spoke out about that racist abuse she got on social media is super brave πŸ’ͺ it takes a lot of guts to talk about that stuff, especially after everything she's been through πŸ˜” i'm glad she's using her platform to raise awareness and help change the game for the better 🌟 sarina wiegman seems like an amazing manager btw πŸ‘ all these new beginnings for Jess and the team are really inspiring 🌈 maybe football can be a force for good instead of just being about winning πŸ’–
 
I'm still shook after watchin that final match 🀯... I mean, I know it's football but u gotta feel for the girls, especially when they're facin racist abuse online πŸ’”. Jess Carter is so brave for speakin out about it, I woulda lost my mind if I had to deal with that kinda stress 😩. And Sarina Wiegman seems like an amazing manager, I'm low-key jealous of their honest convo sessions 🀫. The fact that black players face extra scrutiny when they make mistakes is just not right, we gotta do better than that πŸ‘Ž. Anywayz, Jess Carter's just a vibe, lovin her honesty and dedication to football... it's def not her everything but she knows what makes her happy 😊.
 
idk how come everyone's so quick to blame the victims πŸ€” i mean Jess Carter just opened up about receiving racist abuse online and suddenly everyone's all like "oh she's brave for speaking out"? where are the sources on this? have we seen any stats on the impact of racism in football or is it just a feel-good story? πŸ“Š
 
You know, it's crazy how one thing can affect us so deeply. Like, we might think we're good at dealing with stress or criticism, but it's actually a lot harder than we think... 🀯 I mean, imagine getting hate messages on social media, and feeling like you have to hide or keep quiet about it just because of fear. That's not living, that's existing πŸ˜”. Jess Carter is a hero for speaking out against racism, and I hope her story inspires others to do the same... πŸ™ We gotta look at each other's struggles and offer support instead of turning away πŸ’–. And hey, if we love something like football, let's not forget what's truly important in life - our happiness 😊.
 
man I cant even imagine playing football without people being racist online its like a whole new level of stress πŸ€• I remember watching the women's world cup in 2019 and Emma Hayes got roasted on twitter for making a comment about Sweden lol now we have Jess Carter speaking out against it and I'm so proud of her πŸ’ͺ she's setting an example for everyone else to do the same, its not just black players who get targeted btw
 
πŸ†πŸ’– I'm so proud of Jess for speaking out about the abuse she faced πŸ˜”. It's not okay for anyone to be subjected to hate on social media πŸ‘Ž. The fact that Sarina Wiegman is creating a safe space for open conversations 🀝 makes me love her even more πŸ’•.

It's heartbreaking to hear that black players face extra scrutiny when they make mistakes πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. But I'm glad Jess and the team are using their platform to bring attention to this issue πŸ“’. And it's amazing to see Jess prioritizing her happiness in football πŸ€πŸŒˆ. We need more role models like her who show us that you can be strong, brave, and still love what you do πŸ’ͺπŸ’–.
 
I'm really feeling this πŸ€—. The way the media is shinin' a light on abuse suffered by female players like Jess Carter shows us that we're gettin' closer to makin' the sport more inclusive. We gotta keep pushin' for these honest conversations and support systems in place, especially when it comes to dealin' with racism and mental health 🀝

I'm lovin' how Jess is speakin' her truth and not bein' afraid to show her emotions about what she's gone through 😊. We need more players like her who are willin' to share their stories and help bring about change. And Sarina Wiegman, bravo for creatin' that safe space for her players πŸ™Œ

It's crazy how much pressure these girls are under, not just on the pitch but off it too 🀯. We gotta make sure they're gettin' the support they need to stay healthy and happy in this sport. And if that means havin' tough conversations about racism and mental health, then so be it πŸ’¬

Let's keep spreadin' love and positivity in the sports world, fam! 🌈
 
πŸ€” I'm all for Jess Carter speaking out about the abuse she faced, it's crazy how in 2025 we're still dealing with this kind of thing in football ⚽️. It's a huge issue that needs to be addressed, especially when you're on a global stage like the Euro championship 🌎. I'm glad Sarina Wiegman is being praised for her approachable demeanor, it's clear she's created an environment where players feel comfortable opening up about their struggles πŸ’¬.

But let's talk about why this kind of abuse still happens in football. Is it because we're not taking racism seriously enough? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ I think we need to be having these conversations more often, especially when it comes to the impact on black and minority players like Jess Carter πŸ™Œ. It's time for us to hold our own kind of leaders accountable for creating a culture that tolerates this kind of behavior πŸ‘Š.

And can we talk about how football players are expected to be role models? 🀝 They're already under so much pressure, but they also need to deal with racist abuse on top of it. It's like we're asking them to be superheroes who can save the game from itself πŸ˜‚. But seriously, Jess Carter is a hero for speaking out and creating change πŸ’ͺ.
 
I can imagine how tough it must've been for Jess to go through all that emotional abuse πŸ€•. It's amazing she found the courage to speak out about it. I feel bad for her and other players who have to deal with this stuff. Sarina Wiegman seems like a great manager - really supportive and open, you know? πŸ™. The whole England team had a rough tournament, but Jess is so brave for sharing her thoughts on the final. It's not just about winning or losing, it's about being true to yourself and standing up for what's right πŸ’ͺ. I'm glad she's prioritizing her own happiness and well-being - we need more players like that in sports! 🌟
 
I don't know about this new wave of people speaking out against racist abuse on social media πŸ€”. I mean, it's about time, right? But is it just another trend? πŸ€‘ Are we really going to keep talking about this until the topic becomes old news? πŸ’β€β™€οΈ I'm all for creating a more inclusive environment in sports, but let's not jump on every bandwagon that comes our way. We need concrete actions and real change, not just some social media post πŸ“±. Can we please focus on implementing policies and supporting initiatives that address racism in football? πŸ’ͺ
 
😊 I think it's so inspiring that Jess Carter is speaking out about the racist abuse she faced on social media... like, it takes an enormous amount of courage to talk about something that can be really hurtful πŸ€•. It makes me wanna support her more than ever! πŸ‘ Also, I love how Sarina Wiegman seems like a super understanding and supportive manager - I think that's so important for players who are already going through tough times πŸ’–. And honestly, it's kinda sad that black players face extra scrutiny when they make mistakes... like, shouldn't we just support each other regardless of skin color? πŸ€”
 
πŸ†πŸ‘ I think it's super great that Jess is speaking out about the emotional impact of racist abuse on social media πŸš«πŸ’”. It's crazy how much pressure she was under because of her color and position on the team 😳. I mean, anyone who's been on the receiving end of online hate can relate to feeling like it's eating away at you πŸ’”.

It's also awesome that Sarina Wiegman is creating a safe space for honest conversations 🀝. We need more managers like her who are willing to listen and offer guidance without making us feel belittled 😊. And can we talk about how crazy the situation was during that final match? 🀯 It's wild that black players are scrutinized even harder when they make mistakes, while white players get a free pass πŸ™„.

Jess's courage in sharing her story is everything πŸ’ͺ. We need more people like her who aren't afraid to speak out against racism and promote positive change πŸ’•. By opening up about her experiences, she's helping create a more inclusive environment in football where everyone feels valued and respected 🌟.
 
It's really concerning that Jess Carter had to deal with racist abuse on social media πŸ€•. It's not okay for players to face such negativity, especially from strangers online. The fact that she felt compelled to speak out after the game shows just how much of an impact it had on her mental health. πŸ™

I love how Sarina Wiegman is bringing about a more open and honest approach to team management – it's giving players like Jess a voice when they need it most πŸ’¬. And, you know, seeing black players face scrutiny for errors that white players don't makes me wonder if there's more work to be done in terms of equality πŸ€”.

I think what I love most about Jess's attitude is her willingness to prioritize her own happiness and well-being on the pitch 😊. It's easy to get caught up in the pressure to perform, but it's refreshing to see someone say that their passion for football isn't all-consuming. Maybe this is a signal that we need more players speaking out about mental health and self-care in sports πŸ‹οΈβ€β™€οΈ?
 
πŸ€” It's really inspiring to see Jess Carter speaking out about the emotional toll of receiving racist abuse on social media 🚨. I think it's so brave of her to share her experience and use her platform to raise awareness about this issue 😊. The conversation with Sarina Wiegman is also really refreshing, I love how she creates a safe space for open and honest discussions πŸ’¬. What's concerning though is the added scrutiny black players face when making mistakes, it's not fair that they're held to different standards than their white counterparts πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. But overall, Jess Carter's courage and honesty are really admirable, I hope her story can inspire others to speak up against racism and promote inclusivity in football 🌟
 
I'm still shocked by the level of abuse Jess Carter faced on social media during the Euro women's football championship 🀯🚫. It's crazy that something so hurtful can be hiding behind a screen. The fact that it took her to talk about it but also feel like she had to speak out after the game says a lot about how ingrained these issues are in our society πŸŒͺ️.

It's amazing to see Sarina Wiegman as a manager who creates an environment where players feel comfortable opening up πŸ’¬. I think this is key for any team looking to build a strong, inclusive culture. But at the same time, I'm still not used to seeing black players having to deal with extra scrutiny when they make mistakes πŸ€”.

It's inspiring to see Jess Carter saying no to football if it doesn't bring her happiness 😊. As someone who loves the game but isn't willing to sacrifice their own well-being for it, she's not alone in this feeling. We should be celebrating players like her who are prioritizing their mental health and finding ways to make the sport more enjoyable for themselves πŸ’–.

I hope Jess Carter's story sparks a larger conversation about racism in sports and how we can work together to create a more inclusive environment 🌈.
 
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