A 59-year-old man from Great Harwood has been arrested by Lancashire Police for sending "disgusting and appalling" racist abuse to England footballer Jess Carter during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025. The arrest follows a thorough investigation led by Cheshire Police, which began after reports of the abusive messages surfaced in July.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Police condemned the messages, stating that "nobody should be subjected to such racist abuse." Carter, a 27-year-old defender from Warwick, announced she would be stepping back from social media in response to the online racism she faced during the tournament.

The UK Football Policing Unit launched an investigation involving social media companies to track down those responsible for the "vile comments." Roberts praised Carter for her courage in standing up to the abuse and assisting with the investigation. He also emphasized that this arrest is expected to be the first of many in the coming months as authorities crack down on online hate.

Lancashire Police released bodycam footage of the arrest at the man's home in Great Harwood. PC Dan Fish reiterated that the force does not tolerate hate in any form, whether in person or online. He expressed hope that the arrest sends a clear message that police will go to great lengths to identify and prosecute those who engage in such unacceptable behavior.

This incident underscores the broader issue of online abuse in sports and the need for stricter measures to protect athletes from hate speech. Authorities are committed to ensuring that offenders cannot hide behind social media profiles to spread racism and other forms of abuse.