10 hours ago
11
Ian Wright has revealed he would still consider taking the knee to support equality if he were still playing, after England's women's team decided to scrap the gesture following the racial abuse suffered by their team-mate Jess Carter.
Carter, who played 70 minutes of England's Euro 2025 quarter-final victory over Sweden, said she would be stepping away from social media after she received a 'lot' of online hate following the win.
The Lionesses later said they would no longer be taking the knee, as it was 'clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism' and that they would instead aim to create a new statement that sparks 'conversation and change'.
While Carter is available for England's semi-final against Italy on Tuesday evening, the defender dropped to the bench in the only change to Sarina Wiegman's team.
Speaking ahead of the match, former Arsenal and England forward Wright suggested players should be able to decide whether they personally take the knee.
Wright, who returned to ITV's punditry line-up for the semi-final, suggested the gestured had previously been forced upon people but admitted he would have considered continuing the stance if he were still playing.
Ian Wright has suggested taking the knee should be a personal decision and would have considered continuing with the gesture for equality if he were still playing
England have scrapped taking the knee before matches after Jess Carter was racially abused
England and Sweden took the knee ahead of their Women's Euros quarter-final last week
'Firstly I think the decision to take the knee should have been a person thing, if you want to take it,' Wright said.
'I think it was always forced on people, for me, if I was playing now, for everything the knee represents, if we think of justice and equality of everything that goes with it, I think I would still take the knee.
'But in respects of Jess, the priority is she is ok and has the support around her but for me, I have said everything I can over the years in terms of racism and what it means and what it does and nothing gets any better.
'What I would say now is prepare your children, prepare your family, make them resilient because it is going to continue to come.
'People say that is negative, it isn't they are winning and have been winning and will continue to win, I would urge people to build resilience against it.
'We can't stop it, it is always going to happen.'
