Lauren James Shares Her Experience of Racism and Tournament Challenges

Lionesses forward Lauren James has opened up about her fears of facing racist abuse after missing a penalty in the Women’s Euros quarter-final against Sweden. She described feeling relief when her teammates also missed their penalties, as she worried about the potential backlash.

Despite her miss, England triumphed 3-2 after a 2-2 draw, with Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood, and Grace Clinton also missing their spot-kicks. James revealed that her anxiety about racist abuse was a significant concern, especially after online threats faced by her teammate Jess Carter following the match.

In a statement to BBC Sport, James reflected on the emotional toll of penalty shootouts, saying, “Stepping up, I thought, if I miss, I hope I’m not the only one because I know what comes with it — it happens often.”

Lauren James said it was “the biggest relief ever” that her teammates also missed their penalties, due to her fears of racist abuse.

James emphasized that online abuse continues to be a serious issue, despite players’ efforts to combat it. Following Carter’s revelation of feeling “scared to play” in the final against Spain, the England team announced they would not be taking the knee in the semi-finals or final, citing the need for alternative methods to address racism.

James is currently sidelined due to an injury sustained against Sweden, which affected her during the semi-final and final, and she remains in a protective boot. Her fellow Lioness Jess Carter also spoke about her own fears prior to the final, describing the anxiety caused by racist threats and her concern over performing in such a high-stakes match.

Despite these challenges, Carter expressed pride in her team’s success and gratitude for their support, reflecting a resilient spirit in the face of adversity.