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Ritabrata Banerjee

WSL teams to continue taking knee after Jess Carter abuse at Euro 2025 prompted refusal from Lionesses

Women's Super League teams will continue to take the knee following the Jess Carter racism row during the 2025 European Championship. In July, Carter took to social media to outline the abuse she had received during the tournament and announced her intention to step back from online platforms. Before their semi-final clash, England had announced they would stop taking the knee as a mark of protest.

  • WSL teams to take the knee before matches
  • England stopped the tradition after Carter was racially abused during Euros
  • The new WSL season starts on September 5
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    During the course of the 2025 European Championship, Carter had revealed that she had experienced a lot of racial abuse, which forced her to withdraw from online platforms temporarily. It has been more than a month since that incident and on Thursday, a man was arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of sending malicious communications following racist and abusive messages sent to the Lionesses hero. The suspect has since been released under investigation.

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  • Jess Carter England Women 2025Getty Images

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Two days before England's semi-final clash against Italy, the Lionesses had announced that they would stop taking the knee as a mark of protest against Carter's racial abuse. In a joint statement, they had said: "It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism." The Guardian, though, now reports that WSL have decided, after discussions with club captains, to continue with the pre-match ritual that was started back in 2020.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Carter went on to have an up and down campaign at the Euros, but played a key role in England beating world champions Spain in the final in the tie-breaker to defend their title. After missing out on the last-four game, the defender returned for the final and had a massive outing, which ensured England's second consecutive Euro title. 

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  • Chelsea WSL trophy 2024-25Getty Images

    WHAT NEXT FOR WSL?

    The 2025-26 campaign will formally start on September 5, with reigning champions Chelsea taking on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

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