Karen Carney has called for social media users not to overshadow this summer’s Women’s Euros with horrific online abuse directed at players.
England have appointed two experienced players as ‘social media captains’ to speak to younger members of the squad about how to deal with potential abuse during the tournament.
It comes after a joint FIFA and FIFPRO study found more than half of the players who took part in Euro 2020 and the Africa Cup of Nations were abused online. Homophobic slurs were the most common type of insult, followed by racism.
Karen Carney has called for the end of social media abuse ahead of the Women’s Euros
England have appointed two experienced players as ‘social media captains’ ahead of summer
But Carney insists current interventions to stop abuse can only act as a ‘plaster’ and therefore the only solution to not need such captains is to stop the abuse.
‘I think the best way to do it is to stop people abusing people,’ Carney told Sportsmail. ‘We shouldn’t have to appoint people.
‘We of course have to think about interventions but we are just putting a plaster on it. Why don’t we stop abusing people, that is my message.
‘Think about things before you post them and think about the consequences they will have on people. Be kind and ensure what happened last summer doesn’t happen ever again moving forward.
More than half of the England players who took part at Euro 2020 received online abuse
‘There’s artificial intelligence, lots of people who are out there to help the players. But my attitude now shifts towards ‘why do it?’ Stop doing it.
‘We won’t have to ever have social media captains. We live in a world where we should be kind to one another, supportive and embracive.’
England’s preparation for the tournament meanwhile has gone swimmingly following victories against Belgium, Holland and Switzerland.
Beth Mead in particular impressed against Sarina Wiegman’s former side, overtaking Jimmy Greaves’s goalscoring record for England in a single season.
The Arsenal forward – who scored 11 goals in 22 WSL games in 2021-22 – this week revealed she feels being snubbed for Great Britain’s squad for last year’s Olympic Games has made her a better player.
Beth Mead scored against Holland and has had an impressive season for her club Arsenal
But Carney also feels the inspiration of seeing England’s men reach the final of Euro 2020 last summer has played its part in Mead’s rejuvenation and feels there are similarities between this season and the campaign preceding the 2019 World Cup.
‘By not being picked for a major tournament, you probably have a reset and a refresh and you have a motivation,’ Carney said.
‘She has had a fantastic season. I remember going to the Euros for the men last summer and Beth was in the crowd with Beth England and a few other players who didn’t go to the Olympics and now they’re in the current squad.
‘You don’t know what that impact has of not going to a major tournament and being inspired by the lads and what they did maybe got her going again.
‘But what I do know is Beth Mead has had a great season for Arsenal and she had a great season ahead of the 2019 World Cup and was phenomenal for us in that tournament.
The Arsenal forward has said her snub for last year’s Olympics have made her better
But Carney also believes Mead watching England’s men last summer has kick started her again
‘There are a lot of synergies with this year where she has smashed records, assists, goals and now she is going into the tournament with good form and confidence.
‘She seems happy, that is the biggest thing. Any player when they are happy, they’re in their best position. We will be looking to Beth to help us progress.’
Lauren Hemp, 21, also helped spark the Holland comeback on the opposite flank to Mead, and the pair started the final warm-up game against the Swiss.
It represents the Manchester City forward’s first major tournament, just as the 2005 Euros were for an 18-year-old Carney, who memorably scored a last-gasp winner against Finland.
But the now 34-year-old sees a difference between her situation 17 years ago and Hemp’s now, and insists the pressure is off her at this tournament.
Carney also urged 21-year-old forward Lauren Hemp to express herself this summer
Booking.com is kicking off the summer with a spectacular Pitch View Penthouse at Wembley Stadium, for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ Final. The football-themed penthouse will be bookable as a one-night-only sleepover experience, for two lucky guests, at the final on Sunday 31 July, plus best view seats to the game.
‘I often speak to Lauren, I get on well with her. I am a big fan of hers and I want her to enjoy the tournament this summer, to go express herself and have fun and blank out outside noise.
‘She is quite experienced, she is not as young as I was in 2005, she has been in the WSL for a long period and has played in big games.
‘I was completely raw and she is at a completely different point. She has got a little bit more behind her and there are more people around her to support her.
‘My advice would be to go out and have fun, express yourself and embrace everyone supporting her and the team. There is no pressure on her whatsoever.’
Carney insists with the squad available to Wiegman that England ‘are up there’ as favourites for the tournament, but believes Sweden are just as well equipped as the Lionesses.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea star expects Sweden to challenge England as favourites
‘The team other than England I am backing is Sweden. They are the team I would put up there. Germany I think they are young and hungry. It is just the experience.
‘Germany and Spain have been really successful in the younger age groups, they are building and have got that momentum.
‘Spain have 10 players in the Barcelona side who have had a great last two or three years, but I think for Spain it is just about the final third and being clinical. They dominate games, can they see out teams?
‘Germany have come through that transitional period and a bad period for the last four to five years, which is uncharacteristic of them. But they have that history, you cannot rule them out but I would put Sweden above them all.’
Karen Carney was talking as research from Booking.com showed more than eight in ten England fans (85 per cent) say the growth of the women’s game has made traveling to play professional football in top leagues around the world a realistic career ambition for women and girls.
Chelsea and England defender Millie Bright is also an ambassador for the brand
