England Lionesses Stand in Solidarity with Jess Carter at Euro 2025

In a significant moment of solidarity, the England women's football team, known as the Lionesses, demonstrated their support for teammate Jess Carter ahead of their Euro 2025 semi-final match against Italy. The event, held at Stade de Geneve on Tuesday, marked a departure from the team's previous practice of taking the knee before games as a gesture against racism. Instead, the players opted for a unified stand, with substitutes linking arms on the touchline to express their backing for Carter, who has faced online racial abuse during the tournament.

This decision comes in the wake of a statement from the Lionesses announcing their cessation of the knee-taking gesture, which they adopted during Euro 2022 and the 2023 Women’s World Cup. According to England manager Sarina Wiegman, the team felt that “taking the knee” had not produced the desired impact in combating racism. Wiegman stated, “Taking the knee, that’s not enough. We have done that for a while. The impact is not good enough, it’s not as big as we think.” This sentiment was echoed by former England striker Ian Wright, who emphasized that the decision regarding the gesture is a personal choice.

The match against Italy was not only a crucial semi-final for the Lionesses, but it also served as a platform to highlight the ongoing issue of racism in sports. During the match, sections of the crowd sang Carter's song and applauded in the 16th minute, symbolizing their support for the defender, who wears the number 16 jersey. However, the Italian team did not participate in any similar gesture, raising questions about the broader attitudes towards racism in football.

While the Lionesses have adopted new strategies to address racism, the head of football's international anti-discrimination body, Fare, questioned the effectiveness of their decision to stop taking the knee. As the tournament progresses, this incident underscores the need for comprehensive discussions on how best to combat racism in football and society at large.

The winner of the semi-final is set to face either Spain or Germany in the final scheduled for Sunday, June 27, at Basel’s St Jakob-Park. As the Lionesses continue their campaign in Euro 2025, their actions on and off the field will likely influence future discussions surrounding racism in sports and the efficacy of symbolic gestures.