Lucy Bronze hopes England not taking knee sends ‘more needs to be done’ message

England’s decision not to kneel before Tuesday night’s Euro 2025 semi-final is a statement the Lionesses hope will loudly signal to “people around the world” that “more needs to be done” about racism, said defender Lucy Bronze.

The defending champions have collectively chosen to refrain from participating in what has become a widespread anti-racism gesture, in the wake of England defender Jess Carter revealing she has been the target of vile racist abuse on social media during the tournament and will be stepping back from the platforms for the remainder of the campaign.

Football Association chief Mark Bullingham announced his organisation has already involved UK police, and vowed to ensure “those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice”, while Bronze said “strong “ and “ferocious” Carter’s choice to speak out – in a statement posted to her social media – was “empowering to our whole team”.

Bronze said: “The decision (not to kneel) was driven by the group, obviously certain individuals more than others.

“I think it was just the fact that we feel, as a collective, ‘Is the message as strong as it used to be? Is the message really hitting hard?’.

“Because to us it feels like it’s not, if these things are still happening to our players in the biggest tournaments of their lives. It’s putting another statement out there to say it’s something that still is a problem.

“It’s something that still needs to be put right. More needs to be done in football, more needs to be done in society. What that is right now, as an individual, I don’t exactly know, but it’s something that us, collectively, as a team and as a federation, we want to work towards.

“We want to make changes. This is a small step, trying to create another change.”

While Bronze agreed England know “people higher up are the ones that can ultimately put in things to make change”, she added: “I think we’re never helpless as players.

“I think that is something that we are very proud of as a Lionesses team, that we have created this voice and this platform that we can reach the highest of heights, and that we are willing to use that platform and that voice to make differences.

“I think the sentiment of (not) taking a knee and standing, as small as it might seem to other people, I think the noise will be reached around the world.”

The widespread use of kneeling in sport was sparked by NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who in 2016 sat – then later knelt – during the United States national anthem to protest racial injustice and bring awareness to police brutality.

England are currently preparing for Tuesday’s Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, and while Bronze said Carter is someone who “would stand up for the right thing no matter what”, she admitted: “Jess herself, I think it’s difficult.

“I think she would probably not admit it to the wider world, but it’s obviously difficult for her to go through, but all the players (and staff) are here to support her.”

Bronze was quick to point out that Carter’s situation is in no way unique.

She added: “I think we all know that any player of colour that’s played for England has probably gone through racist abuse. That’s a sad fact in this day and age.

“There was a lot of anger, to be honest, because as players we want to stand up and we want to make a change. It’s anger and sadness that our team-mates are going through this and we don’t want it to happen.

“We want to be focused on the football, we want to be making changes. We want Jess and anybody else who puts on an England shirt to be brave, to be happy when they play for England, to have the fans’ support through it all.”