Jess Carter: England defender says Euro 2025 abuse made her not want to leave her hotel room

Carter is in the UK as Gotham are preparing to face Brazilian side SC Corinthians in the semi-finals of the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup at Brentford Stadium on 28 January.

She moved from nine-time Women’s Super League champions Chelsea to the US in 2024 and has seen a big difference in how players are treated between the two nations.

While the fans who support the Lionesses and travel to watch games are “amazing”, Carter said she has noticed supporters at Gotham are friendlier than in England.

“In America they just seem to be so happy and so positive and tell you how great you are, even if you haven’t done that good,” she added.

“My happiness comes before any form of football anymore, so whatever decision I make on where I’ll play football will be based on where I think I’ll be happiest for myself, my family.”

Carter’s team-mates rallied round her during Euro 2025 and the squad made the decision to stop the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee before matches when Carter spoke up as it was “clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism”.

With the popularity of women’s football growing, Carter said the idea that the sport is a free space for people to be who they want to be is starting to recede.

“You’re starting to hesitate about who you want to be – and that’s not what we want,” she said.

“We want it to be family-friendly still. We want great rivalries, but the abuse doesn’t need to come with it.

“But that’s just got worse, specifically with the Lionesses.

“The profiles are getting huge now. Every player should feel comfortable walking around the street and being whoever they want to be, and it’s getting to a place where a lot of people don’t feel that kind of comfort any more.”