Lucy Bronze Highlights Rising Abuse in Women's Football Amid Growing Popularity

England's Lucy Bronze has spoken out about the increasing levels of abuse in women's football, emphasizing that the sport's growth has unfortunately been accompanied by a surge in negative behavior. The issue came to the forefront after her teammate, Jess Carter, disclosed that she had been subjected to racial abuse during the ongoing Euro 2025 tournament.

Carter announced her decision to step back from social media following the incidents, which she described as "a lot of racial abuse." The Football Association (FA) is collaborating with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for these hate crimes are held accountable. Additionally, the England team has decided to discontinue the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee before matches, stating that it is "clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism."

Bronze, who has been a key player in England's journey to the Euro 2025 semi-finals, noted that the team has faced increasing abuse as their international success has grown. "The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes, the more fans there are, but the more critics there are," said the 33-year-old defender. "We're obviously open to critics—that's why we love the sport—but we're not open to abuse. Especially in women's football, the online abuse seems to be getting worse and worse."

She added that while abuse is often seen in stadiums during men's football matches, women's football appears to be particularly targeted online. "It's something that we're very aware of. There is a way to make a change. There is a solution. I don't have the answer, but I'm sure that there is one," Bronze stated.

The Lionesses held discussions before the tournament to address the issue of abuse, which has become a significant concern in women's football. Players like Arsenal's Alessia Russo and Chelsea's Lauren James have also spoken about the damaging effects of online harassment. James, who faced racist abuse during the 2023 Women's World Cup and the subsequent Women's Super League season, said the abuse "never really stops."

Bronze expressed hope that by standing together before matches, the team could amplify their message globally. "We know the people higher up are the ones who can ultimately put in things to make change. But I think we know we're never helpless as players," she said. "Our voices are loud enough to be heard by people around the world, whether that's social media platforms or federations like Uefa and Fifa."

She also called for greater accountability from social media platforms, stressing that "people need to be held accountable." Bronze praised Carter for speaking out, describing it as "empowering" for the team and particularly for younger players like Michelle Agyemang, who is participating in her first major tournament.

Defender Alex Greenwood echoed Bronze's sentiments, stating that taking the knee has "lost its purpose" and that the team is determined to send a clear message against abuse. However, she emphasized the need for support from other organizations to drive meaningful change. "We hope other organizations, and other teams, have the same feeling as us and also want to do something to make a change," Greenwood said.

Uefa has implemented an online abuse monitoring program during major tournaments, while Fifa has introduced stricter disciplinary measures to combat racism, including increased bans and financial penalties. Despite these efforts, the players acknowledge that more needs to be done to address the issue effectively.