The former England, Birmingham City and Chelsea footballer has now reached the Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals
Former England football star and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Kaen Carney once received a one-match suspension and fine after telling an opposing player to “f*** off back to Spain”.
The incident occurred during a Women’s Super League fixture in July 2014 between Birmingham City and Bristol Academy.
Carney and Natalia Pablos Sanchon became involved in a series of heated exchanges towards the end of the match. The Football Association found Carney guilty of misconduct for using abusive and/or insulting language towards an opponent, resulting in a £450 fine and a requirement to complete an educational programme.
Despite this setback, Carney, now 38, has refused to let the incident overshadow her contributions to the sport and she has since become a leading advocate for women’s football.
She chaired the government’s 2022 review into the future of the sport, advocating for improved pay, facilities and overall standards.
Carney has built an impressive career both on and off the pitch and is now aiming to secure her place in British television history after reaching the semi-finals of Strictly.
The former Chelsea star turned football analyst has captured the hearts of viewers on the beloved show with her enthusiasm and talent on the floor.
She has delivered strong performances alongside dance partner Carlos Gu which has won her an army of fans. Carney will now be hoping to mirror her footballing achievements and claim another trophy on Saturday evening.
Though she made it through to the final four, the 38 year old’s 1960s psychedelic-themed samba earned her and Carlos 34 points, placing them at the bottom of the most recent leader board. However, it proved sufficient to see them through to the coveted semi-finals.
Throughout her distinguished career, Carney represented England at four World Cups, four European Championships and the London Olympics, accumulating 144 caps to become the nation’s third-most capped player.
This remarkable service to football was recognised with an OBE in 2024. In her role as a football pundit, she has faced an unprecedented level of abuse, particularly in December 2020 when her remarks about Leeds United led to thousands of abusive and sexist messages being sent her way.
This incident resulted in the deletion of her Twitter account, and she later revealed that she had contemplated suicide during this period.
However, Carney remains undeterred by the onslaught of online abuse. Displaying the same resilience and determination she showed on the pitch, she continues to work within football, combating online abuse while also making it to the final four of Strictly Come Dancing.
