Racism has increased in women's football as the game has grown, says Bronze
Bronze, who was key to England's quarter-final victory over Sweden at Euro 2025 on Thursday, held an emotional press conference after teammate Jess Carter, who is Black, announced she had been the target of racist abuse since the tournament began.
"The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes, the more fans there are, but the more critics there are," Bronze said.
"We're obviously open to critics - that's why we love the sport - but we're not open to abuse. Especially in women's football, the online abuse seems to be getting worse and worse.
"We see it more in the stadiums in men's football and online, but I think with women's football there seems to be a real target online.
"It's something that we're very aware of. There is a way to make a change. There is a solution. I don't have the answer, but I'm sure that there is one."
Bronze was asked whether the abuse Carter had received would make other young Black players think twice about playing for England.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise
Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT
Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung
Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger
Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle
Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations
Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event
Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi
"I hope that those players know that no matter what they go through, they'll be supported by this team, that we don't condone these actions, that we want to stand up for change, not just in football, but in society, that those young players can grow up and be heroes and legends of an England team," she said.
"We are creating an environment where those players can thrive, be who they want to be, you can come from any background, any environment, and you can represent England as the highest stage."
England play Italy in the semi-finals on Tuesday in Geneva. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- Straits Times
England coach Wiegman has learned to enjoy the good times
ZURICH - Sarina Wiegman sang a celebratory song in her native Dutch when England clinched a spot in the Euro 2025 final. She attempted to high-five assistant Darren Ward, but missed. She admitted she planned to treat herself with a "glass of something nice." If England's women's coach was reserved when hired in 2021, she said she has grown into the role, and her passion has been on full display at the Euros, particularly through two nail-biting knockout victories in which the Lionesses were on the brink of elimination. "First of all, my English has improved, so I understand a lot more, but also you learn more about people you work with," she said on Friday. "You learn more again about yourself and while I'm always working on developing the team, I always try to keep developing myself. "What I really wanted to do over all these years is try to enjoy it a little bit more, you have to be focused in this job, but you need to celebrate the moments that are good, it's really nice." As England get ready to contest their third successive major final on Sunday, when they face world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 showpiece, Wiegman's players have described her as a second mum -- direct and demanding but caring and supportive. Ella Toone said the coach has been kind-hearted in the midfielder's first major tournament after the death of her father. Aggie Beever-Jones said after England's loss to France in their Euro opener, Wiegman put a consolatory arm around her and explained her reasons for not playing her in the game. Midfielder Keira Walsh called her "one of the best managers I've played for in terms of trying to make everyone feel loved". "It's a really difficult job when you're in a tournament, and obviously people want to play, people aren't, but she really, really cares about the human side," Walsh said. "Another thing that you notice when you play for her is how calm she is. It makes a massive difference in the 95th minute when you're losing 1-0, and you look to the side and she's very calm." Wiegman said the job can be a difficult balance. "I'm a caring person, so maybe that's the part, I care about them but at the same time I'm the coach, I'm making these hard decisions at the moment," she said. On Sunday, Wiegman will become the first person, in men's or women's soccer, to have coached teams in five consecutive major tournament finals. The 55-year-old, who is under contract through the 2027 World Cup, guided her native Netherlands to two finals before continuing that run with Euro 2022 champions England. Football Association executive Mark Bullingham said they will not let Wiegman leave for any amount of money, and Wiegman certainly does not sound like she is going anywhere. "I'm sorry, I'm still learning English but yes I have (fallen in love) with England," Wiegman said. "Otherwise I would not be sitting here with such a smile on my face. "This team has always shown so much resilience, I see that in abundance and I see that entirely through the prism of the Lionesses. They are absolutely the most resilient of people. They really want to work so hard and are so committed." REUTERS
CNA
37 minutes ago
- CNA
England coach Wiegman has learned to enjoy the good times
ZURICH :Sarina Wiegman sang a celebratory song in her native Dutch when England clinched a spot in the Euro 2025 final. She attempted to high-five assistant Darren Ward, but missed. She admitted she planned to treat herself with a "glass of something nice." If England's women's coach was reserved when hired in 2021, she said she has grown into the role, and her passion has been on full display at the Euros, particularly through two nail-biting knockout victories in which the Lionesses were on the brink of elimination. "First of all, my English has improved, so I understand a lot more, but also you learn more about people you work with," she said on Friday. "You learn more again about yourself and while I'm always working on developing the team, I always try to keep developing myself. "What I really wanted to do over all these years is try to enjoy it a little bit more, you have to be focused in this job, but you need to celebrate the moments that are good, it's really nice." As England get ready to contest their third successive major final on Sunday, when they face world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 showpiece, Wiegman's players have described her as a second mum - direct and demanding but caring and supportive. Ella Toone said the coach has been kind-hearted in the midfielder's first major tournament after the death of her father. Aggie Beever-Jones said after England's loss to France in their Euro opener, Wiegman put a consolatory arm around her and explained her reasons for not playing her in the game. Midfielder Keira Walsh called her "one of the best managers I've played for in terms of trying to make everyone feel loved". "It's a really difficult job when you're in a tournament, and obviously people want to play, people aren't, but she really, really cares about the human side," Walsh said. "Another thing that you notice when you play for her is how calm she is. It makes a massive difference in the 95th minute when you're losing 1-0, and you look to the side and she's very calm." Wiegman said the job can be a difficult balance. "I'm a caring person, so maybe that's the part, I care about them but at the same time I'm the coach, I'm making these hard decisions at the moment," she said. On Sunday, Wiegman will become the first person, in men's or women's soccer, to have coached teams in five consecutive major tournament finals. The 55-year-old, who is under contract through the 2027 World Cup, guided her native Netherlands to two finals before continuing that run with Euro 2022 champions England. Football Association executive Mark Bullingham said they will not let Wiegman leave for any amount of money, and Wiegman certainly does not sound like she is going anywhere. "I'm sorry, I'm still learning English but yes I have (fallen in love) with England," Wiegman said. "Otherwise I would not be sitting here with such a smile on my face. "This team has always shown so much resilience, I see that in abundance and I see that entirely through the prism of the Lionesses. They are absolutely the most resilient of people. They really want to work so hard and are so committed."
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Spain ready to solve England puzzle in Euro final, says Putellas
LAUSANNE, Switzerland :Spain are remaining tight-lipped about what they expect from England in Sunday's Euro 2025 final in Basel, but midfielder Alexia Putellas says her side are ready for whatever Sarina Wiegman and her squad come up with. "England is a team that can come up with many things - they can be in a low block and move forward, or they can be a team that wants to do both things, (but) we are a team with a lot of resources," Putellas told reporters at the Spanish team's base in Lausanne on Thursday. "If they decide to be in the low block and move forward, we have been able to play (in the past) and score goals. We are well-balanced so that they do not move forward ... it's hard to get the ball off us, we are ready for anything." The showdown pits title holders England, who have flirted with elimination en route to the final, against world and Nations League champions Spain, who have started their games in Switzerland slowly before growing into them and taking over. Putellas said that her side would not be taking anything for granted. "I try not to think about what has happened, what we have done or what we haven't done. In the end, these are unique moments that we have to live and that we are very excited about," she said. The game is also a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final that Spain won 1-0, and the two sides have also met in the Nations League earlier this year, with England winning 1-0 in February and Spain grabbing a 2-1 victory in June. "We are very excited, very ambitious, excited to continue growing, to continue making history and I think that gives us a lot of energy, we get a lot of energy to achieve our goal," Putellas said.
