England will begin their Euro 2025 campaign against France on 5 July England forward Alessia Russo says she prefers to stay off social media during major tournaments because of how "damaging" abuse can be. The 26-year-old was speaking about the issue alongside her Lionesses teammates as they prepare for their European Championship defence in Switzerland next month. Their comments come after British women's tennis number one Katie Boulter spoke to BBC Sport aboutabuse and death threats she has received online, Manchester United midfielder Grace Clinton 22, says she will try and stay away from social media to avoid a "toxic environment" while Chelsea forward Lauren James said "the abuse never really stops". "I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game but it's definitely one that can be really damaging," said Arsenal forward Russo, 26. "I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. "I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my team-mates, my coaches and my family. "In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes. "Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. "It's personal preference and whatever works for the team. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me." Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, James discussed abuse she received, saying: "Sometimes it's not even to do with my performance, even when someone loses at Fifa [EA Sports FC video game], my card scores against them and they're sending me abuse. "I guess when it's your first time though, maybe it might touch someone but I'm used to it, I'm going to just brush it off my shoulder." Chelsea midfielder Kiera Walsh told 5 Live she no longer uses social media, while club teammate Lucy Bronze added: "People write horrible things and obviously our families read it as well and it can be upsetting if you see something that's not very nice. "Social media is amazing in one way and absolutely awful in another way. I think most of us have been off at some point." Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone said that while she will still uses Instagram during the tournament, she will respect the decision of any team-mate who decides to keep off social media while in Switzerland. "I know other people turn their phones off. We have that conversation and all know how each other wants to go through the tournament," she said. "If I see something on Instagram I'm not going to tell someone or blurt it out to the team because they don't want to see it. I think it's a personal preference." Having experienced online abuse as a young player, both her and Russo want to help younger players in the squad deal with it. "I think from experiences me and Alessia have had in the past, we've always been the people that want to make sure the younger or less experienced players coming into the squad feel relaxed and feel OK," Toone added. "We have such a talented squad. We have bags of talent coming into their first tournament so we want to make sure they are at ease and feel confident within themselves." Head here to get involved
'The abuse never stops' - Lionesses to avoid social media
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"Lionesses Players Discuss Avoiding Social Media to Combat Online Abuse Ahead of Euro 2025"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
As England prepares to kick off their Euro 2025 campaign against France on July 5, the Lionesses have expressed their intention to distance themselves from social media during the tournament due to the negative impact of online abuse. Forward Alessia Russo highlighted the damaging nature of such abuse, sharing her personal experiences of facing online hostility. Russo, along with her teammates, discussed the importance of focusing on the game rather than the toxic environment that social media can create. She emphasized that the opinions that truly matter come from her teammates, coaches, and family, rather than the public online. In past tournaments, Russo admitted to getting caught up in social media, but she has since opted to have someone else manage her account, allowing her to concentrate solely on her performance on the field. Other players, like Grace Clinton and Lauren James, echoed these sentiments, noting that the abuse can be relentless and often unrelated to their athletic performance. James pointed out that even trivial matters, such as losing in a video game, can trigger abusive comments from online users, reflecting a broader issue of online toxicity that athletes face.
The discussion among the Lionesses also included their individual strategies for coping with social media during tournaments. Kiera Walsh and Lucy Bronze have chosen to abstain from social media altogether, recognizing the potential for distressing content that can affect themselves and their families. Meanwhile, Ella Toone shared that while she plans to use Instagram during the tournament, she respects her teammates' choices to avoid social media. The team displays a strong sense of camaraderie, supporting each other's decisions and ensuring that younger players feel comfortable and confident as they navigate their first major tournament. Toone and Russo, having faced online abuse early in their careers, are particularly invested in mentoring less experienced players, creating a supportive environment that helps them focus on their talent and performance rather than external negativity. This proactive approach aims to bolster the team's morale as they compete in Switzerland, emphasizing the importance of mental well-being in sports.
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