Italy boss responds to racist abuse suffered by England star ahead of Euro 2025 semi-final
Italy head coach Andrea Soncin says his side stand in 'maximum solidarity' with Jess Carter after the England defender revealed she was the target of racist abuse on social media during Euro 2025.
The Italians are through to their first women's European Championship semi-final in 28 years, but will have to knock out defending champions England in Geneva if they want to reach their first final since 1997.
Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Soncin feels Italy have a 'huge responsibility' to stand up to the kind of vitriol directed at Carter, who has said she will be stepping away from social media for the remainder of the tournament.
'Of course there is the greatest solidarity towards her and towards all violence and abuse situations,' said Soncin.
'Any type of violence is not accepted, cannot be tolerated. Because of the role we play, we have a strong and huge responsibility in giving positive messages, and especially educational messages, first of all for the children who will be the adults of tomorrow. It is a cultural campaign, a cultural battle, we all have to fight together.'
The Lionesses, in a statement released on Sunday, announced they will not be 'taking the knee' before their semi-final, explaining: 'It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.'
Soncin said: 'I don't know whether getting on the knee is enough to change this aspect, but for sure there is maximum solidarity from our side. We are very ready to take part in any campaign to avoid this violence.'
The Italy boss said he planned to speak with his group about how they might express their support to Carter and her team-mates when they meet on Tuesday night.
He added: 'We haven't spoken about (a gesture) with the girls. As I said, we have the greatest solidarity, of course there is the greatest solidarity. As a coach, I will accept whatever the players decide to do.'
Italy and Juventus defender Cecilia Salvai said: 'Yes, I believe that we will talk. We will discuss tonight, and our captains are dealing with this issue, and as our coach said, we are open and willing to do anything necessary to give a strong message.'
England boss Sarina Wiegman said Carter is 'ready to perform' in their sixth-straight major tournament semi-final.
Salvai added: 'As a player, I can say we will not be opponents tomorrow. I hope she can play this game, 100 per cent, because this is a semi-final.
'I hope she can try to detach a bit from this episode. Of course, she is not the first one who has been the victim of this abuse, and we have the greatest solidarity for her.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Starmer faces mounting calls for a Lionesses Bank Holiday if England women retain their Euros title after dramatic semi-final comeback
English football fans should get a day off to celebrate if the Lionesses bring it home by winning the Euros for the second time in a row, Keir Starmer has been told today. The Prime Minister is facing renewed calls for a Bank Holiday if the women's national team beat either German or Spain in Sunday's final. The Lionesses tested the nation's stress levels again last night with an incredible extra-time win over Italy in a semi-final, after scoring second from the end of normal time and extra time. Last-gasp goals by Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Smith saw them overcome Italy 2-1 in Geneva. No10 has been resisting calls to give millions of workers a day off, despite Sir Keir backing calls for a Bank Holiday when they won the Euros in 2022, when he was opposition leader. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said that it was important for the nation to mark 'the talent, success and historic achievement' of the team. 'The Lionesses can make history on Sunday and retain the Euros title they won so memorably three years ago. If they do that, the Prime Minister should give us a public holiday to honour their achievement,' he said. 'Retaining the title would be one of our country's greatest sporting achievements. Fans and patriots across the country deserve the chance to celebrate the talent, success and historic achievement of this amazing team. 'The Prime Minister is a football fan - we've all seen the pictures of him enjoying a kick around with his mates. 'If Wiegman's heroes deliver glory, we'll all be hoping he'll put the ball into an empty net by giving the Lionesses and the rest of us a chance to mark the occasion.' The Lionesses were on the brink of elimination by Italy when 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, drawing the sides level with an equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Barbara Bonansea's 33rd-minute opener. Then, with another shootout minutes away, Beth Mead was brought down and Kelly stepped up to the spot, where she was initially denied by Laura Giuliani, but buried the rebound to complete England's second successive stunning comeback. Asked yesterday whether the PM will grant a Bank Holiday if England go on to win the whole tournament on Sunday, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'I'm not aware of any plans for that.' In 2022, the previous Tory government ruled out granting an extra Bank Holiday if England won the women's Euros. This was despite pressure from Sir Keir, the then Opposition leader, for them to do so. Ahead of that year's final, the Labour leader told the Daily Mirror that a Lionesses' victory should be 'marked with a proper day of celebration'. In 2023, when England reached the World Cup final, Sir Keir posted on social media: 'It's almost 60 years since England won the World Cup. 'I'm never complacent about anything… but there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home.' However, a report in 2022 said that the cost to the public finances of a single day bank holiday due to lost productivity is around £2.4billion.
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Leah Williamson admits she has been ‘annoyed' by England's Euros performances before comebacks
England captain Leah Williamson admitted that she has been 'annoyed' by aspects of the Lionesses ' recent performances at Euro 2025, though added that the team 'deserve their flowers' for reaching the final. The Lionesses went 1-0 down to Italy in there first half of their Euro 2025 semi-final last night and needed a 96th-minute equaliser from 19-year-old substitute Michelle Agyemang to save their Euros campaign, before Chloe Kelly wrapped up a dramatic comeback in extra time with a rebound after seeing her penalty saved. It marked the second knockout game in a row in which England needed to claw back a deficit, with the Lionesses having been 2-0 down to Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning a remarkable penalty shootout. And speaking after the semi-final victory in Geneva, William said she was 'very proud', though at the same time 'annoyed that we get ourselves into certain situations'. 'Those girls deserve their flowers, and everybody just played their role,' said Williamson. 'We get ourselves into certain situations with miscommunications or not doing exactly what the plan says, but to bounce back like that, you can't take anything away from the team or those girls, it is incredible. 'It has not been smooth sailing and I feel like things haven't necessarily gone to plan,' continued Williamson, before adding that 'the level just keeps rising and there are more and more unknowns and you have to be ready for everything'. The Lionesses will face either Germany or Spain in the final in Basel on Sunday, with that game throwing together either a rematch of the Euros final in 2022 – in which England beat Germany 2-1 – or a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, which Sarina Wiegman's side lost 1-0 to Spain. That match will likely be the toughest challenge of the tournament so far, with world champions Spain in particular having long been the pre-tournament favourites. But Williamson further explained that she doesn't 'think it has gone smooth sailing for anybody yet, which is the point', and England just need to 'keep rising as well'. 'It makes a great tournament and it shows what is going on. We just have to keep rising as well, this new England has to find their feet quicker,' said Williamson. 'We have one more to go. I promise you we will give it everything we can,' she added. Germany face Spain in the other semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday night, before England take on the winner of that match in the final in Basel on Sunday, 27 July, with kick-off at 5pm BST.
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lionesses' super-sub gives Sarina Wiegman a selection headache
Michelle Agyemang, a 19-year-old striker, has twice rescued the England women's team by scoring crucial equalisers in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals and semi-finals. Her impactful introductions have been pivotal in turning games around, with teammates noting her ability to instil confidence and frighten opposition defenders. Agyemang's unique blend of physicality, aggression, hold-up play, and composure under pressure has made her an invaluable asset for the Lionesses. Despite her game-changing contributions, manager Sarina Wiegman is unlikely to start her in the final, preferring to utilise her as a powerful impact substitute. Agyemang's performances have been instrumental in propelling England into their third consecutive major tournament final, highlighting her as a key weapon for the team.
