Jess Carter has spoken out about the racist abuse she has suffered during Euro 2025 with the England defender saying: "No one's more disappointed in some of my performances than what I am, but the colour of my skin has got nothing to do with that."
Carter released a statement on Sunday in which said she was stepping back from social media due to the racist abuse she has been subjected to while in Switzerland.
The Lionesses rallied round her and said as a result, they would no longer take the knee before their Euro 2025 semifinal in Geneva on Tuesday as they felt the anti-racism gesture is losing its meaning.
The team said it "is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism."
Speaking after England secured their place in the final with an extra-time win over Italy on Tuesday, Carter said: "[It's been] pretty tough. I think that ever since the France game, I think it's kind of started and it was pretty tough. And obviously I think it is some of, a lot of stuff doesn't really bother me.
"So for me to kind of feel a way about it that I needed to speak up and let other peoples know about it and the rest of my team and I just kind of felt like actually I really needed a bit of support and a bit of extra TLC for my team that I don't [usually] really need.
"So that's why I kind of chose to speak up about it. And I'm not saying it's going to make a big difference and make a change, but hopefully just making people aware that it is not OK and racism is still going on. And we are just here to do our job to the best of our ability and hopefully bring success back to England.
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"I totally understand, everyone's got their own opinions on how we play. Trust me. No one's more disappointed in some of my performances than what I am, but the colour of my skin has got nothing to do with that.
"And I think that the fans today were unbelievable and their support was incredible and I can't thank them all enough for being on my side and on my team's side."
The former Chelsea defender was named on the bench for the semifinal by head coach Sarina Wiegman. She came on for Alex Greenwood in the last moments of extra-time to help see England over the line.
"I think it was my team that encouraged me to put it [the statement] out," Carter said. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to say so. I said: 'oh no, I'll just let it go and see afterwards.' But we do what we do to represent ourselves and our country.
"I've got mixed race nephews and nieces. I want them to grow up being strong and brave and powerful and believe that they can do whatever they want to do. And if just by speaking up today makes one silly person keep their mouths shut with certain comments, then that's a big enough difference for me."