sport news Karen Carney calls for Women's Euros not to follow Euro 2020 and be ... trends now
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
