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Man, 60, guilty of sending racist and misogynistic messages to Lioness star

Nigel Dewale posted several racist and misogynistic messages online

[Jess Carter had to fly to the US]

Jess Carter helped the Lionesses capture a second European title(Image: The FA via Getty Images)

A 60-year-old man has admitted sending abusive social media messages to England footballer Jess Carter.

Nigel Dewale, of Great Harwood, Lancashire, sent the posts to Carter's TikTok account during the UEFA women's Euro 2025 tournament last summer.

In one post, he wrote: "Women's football is diabolical. Should not be on national TV. "Brownies are racist murders (sic), fiddlers and groomers. End ov (sic)."

He posted other derogatory messages such as "Racist card again. Always brownies faking," and "This women's football should not be on TV. Waste of airtime."

Carter, 28, was part of the Lionesses squad that successfully defended their title last summer. Dewale appeared at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to sending a malicious message via a public communications network between June 19 and June 23.

[Lionesses EURO celebrations]

The Lionesses captured their second Euros title

He also pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon, namely an extendable baton, in a private place in February last year.

Magistrates adjourned the case until March 25 for pre-sentence reports and warned Dewale, of Prospect Street, that all sentencing options were open, including custody. Dewale was granted unconditional bail.

Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the football policing lead for the National Police Chiefs Council, said: Everyone is responsible for what they do and say, and posting a message on social media is no different.

In this case, Dewale sent hateful and malicious messages, thinking that he would be able to hide behind his account name.

His comments were totally abhorrent, they caused emotional distress for Miss Carter and her family and I welcome the guilty plea entered today.

We have been clear that hate crime online or in person, is not acceptable and as we have shown in this case, you cannot hide behind a social media profile to post vile comments and spread hate.

A Football Association spokesperson said: We acknowledge todays news from Blackburn Magistrates Court that Nigel Dewale of Great Harwood has admitted sending abusive and discriminatory social media messages to England player Jess Carter in July 2025, with sentencing to follow on March 25. The case sends a clear message that this unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated, whether in person or online, and that these actions have real-life consequences.

We thank the UK Football Policing Unit and the local Dedicated Football Officer for their diligent approach throughout this case. Our priority remains supporting Jess and all of our England players who continue to be impacted by disgusting online abuse. We are committed to working closely with the police and the relevant authorities to ensure that perpetrators are held to account.

Carter spoke to ITV News last year about the impact the abuse had on her.

It makes you feel really small, she said.

It makes you feel like youre not important, that youre not valuable.

It makes you second guess everything that you do its not a nice place to be. It doesnt make me feel confident going back onto the pitch. My family was so devastated by it as well and so sad.

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