Lionesses star Lauren James has admitted it was a relief when her team-mates missed penalties alongside her at the Women’s Euros because she feared racist abuse.
James missed her spot-kick in England’s quarter-final shoot-out against Sweden and was worried about the potential repercussions.
The Lionesses fortunately won that 3-2 (after a 2-2 draw) while Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood and Grace Clinton also missed their spot-kicks.
It comes after Jess Carter revealed she was ‘scared to play’ for the Lionesses due to the torrent of racist abuse she experience online after the win over Sweden.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all suffered rancid abuse after they missed from 12 yards against Italy in the ill-fated Euro 202 final.
James told BBC Sport: ‘Stepping up, I was thinking, if I miss I hope I’m not the only one because I know what comes with it – it happened before and keeps happening.
Lauren James said it was ‘the biggest relief ever’ that other team-mates missed their penalties against Sweden at Euro 2025 as she was worried about racist abuse
James missed her spot-kick and said that abuse ‘keeps happening’ in such scenarios, prompting her fear
‘As sad as it sounds, it was the biggest relief ever that other players missed. Who would have thought that? You always want your team-mates to score so you get through.
‘Luckily we missed and got through, but it was not a nice moment – you are playing for your country so you should feel the support from the fans. It shouldn’t matter what colour you are.
England’s players announced they would not be taking the knee against Italy in the semi-finals or Spain in the final after what Carter went through.
‘It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism,’ they said in a statement.
However, according to The Guardian, Women’s Super League players will resume taking the knee this campaign.
James is missing the opening weeks of the campaign due to an injury that she picked up against Sweden.
It hampered her in the semi-final and final and she is still in a protective boot.
She follows Carter in speaking up about the conditions faced by players in the public eye.
Fellow Lioness Jess Carter says she was ‘scared’ to play in the final against Spain due to the threat of racial abuse
After being an integral part of the team who brought home another trophy under Sarina Wiegman, Carter opened up in August on the ordeal of being racially abused.
Speaking to ITV News, she said: ‘Sarina spoke to me before, in the build-up to the Spain game and said that she was wanting to play me.
‘At the time, I didn’t say anything, but in my head I just thought “are you sure?”. The night before the game I remember feeling scared [to play Spain].
‘That’s the first time I have ever been scared to play.
‘I think it was a mixture of my performances coming into such a big game and on top of that scared of whatever abuse might come with it, whether it’s football-based because people were not happy that I was playing or whether it was going to be the racial abuse’.
Her latest comments come after she had thanked her team-mates for their support following victory in the final of the competition.
Carter – who currently plays for US-based side Gotham FC, previously stated: ‘I was super scared of playing the final for the first time in my life.
Sarina Wiegman brought home a second European Championship with the Lionesses
‘When I woke up in the morning and saw my team and saw the support I had – and the belief I had from my team-mates, manager and family – I could come out and give my all. That’s all you can do.
‘It’s incredible, the fans have been incredible all tournament and we couldn’t have done this without them.
‘We’re so grateful for them and this moment. Giving up is not in our DNA. We have stuck together from minute one. I couldn’t be prouder of this team and I’m so honoured to be proud of it.
‘I’m more disappointed in my previous performances than anyone else.’
