Man who racially abused Jess Carter sentenced

A man who sent racially abusive messages on social media to England footballer Jess Carter has been sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. Nigel Dewale, 60, sent the posts to Carter's TikTok account, under his username "Bogeyman", during the Women's Euro 2025 tournament in which England successfully defended their trophy. The messages included a derogatory reference to Carter's race and made baseless claims of a link between race and crimes including murder and grooming.

Dewale, of Great Harwood in Lancashire, was also sentenced to 10 days' community work, given a four-year football banning order, a three-month curfew, and fined £239 at Blackburn Magistrates' Court. Nigel Dewale (left) has been given a suspended prison sentence [Ollie Samuels/BBC News] At a previous hearing, Dewale admitted sending a malicious message via a public communications network between 19 and 23 June 2025. He also admitted the possession of an offensive weapon, namely an extendable baton, in a private place in February.

Central defender Carter plays her club football in the United States for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League, having previously represented Chelsea and Birmingham City in the UK. The 28-year-old, from Warwick, previously said she was stepping away from social media after she was subjected to racist abuse online during last year's Women's Euros. The court heard Dewale was "in drink" at home when he responded to a news article about police investigating online racial abuse received by Carter following England's games against France and Sweden in the tournament.

In addition to making racist comments, he wrote: "Women's football is diabolical. Should not be on national TV" and "Waste of airtime". 'Disgusting racism' FA chief executive Mark Bullingham released a statement condemning the "disgusting racism" faced by Carter in the wake of July's abuse.