Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said Lauren James’ mental health has been affected by the latest racist abuse she has received on social media.
James was booked in Chelsea’s 4-1 Women’s Super League defeat at Arsenal on Sunday after appearing to stamp on Lia Walti and was withdrawn by Hayes soon after.
Chelsea have condemned the online abuse, while Hayes compared the treatment of James to that received by David Beckham after his red card during the 1998 World Cup.
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— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) December 13, 2023
James was sent off in the World Cup last summer for stamping in England’s last-16 penalty shoot-out win against Nigeria and was handed a two-game ban.
Hayes, whose side face Hacken in a Champions League group game at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, said: “She’s not in a great place if I’m honest.
“I think when it starts from broadcasting and the way they speak about things, maybe they need to reflect on labelling players.
“She’s a young player. She made an error in the summer. Of course she has to keep learning those things.
“Of course every opponent tries everything possible to get Lauren red-carded. That’s been clear in every game we’ve played and she has to learn to handle that.
“When she gets antagonised in a certain way, managing emotions comes with maturity and that isn’t there yet with her.
“It reminds me very much of David Beckham in many ways when he got red-carded in the World Cup.
“I think the treatment of Lauren is sometimes very similar and I think we have to realise for a young person, in a day and age when social media is unbelievably vitriolic, some of the nasty language and labelling and name-calling goes over the edge.
“And if you add racism to that for her, you can understand why her mental health is not in a very good place this week.”
Hayes said other Women’s Super League players who had “had their own challenging moments” have not received the same criticism as James.
“I think it’s disgusting the amount of abuse she’s received from the public, from the media, you’re talking about a young player here, who no question is always working to learn in the background,” Hayes added.
“Some of the language I’ve seen used to vilify her certainly I think is unacceptable.
“I don’t see the same level of abuse attributed to other players in the league who might have had their own challenging moments.
“It’s fair to say that if I’m in her position I’d be thinking there is racial profiling going on.”
Chelsea, bidding to bounce back from Sunday’s first defeat of the season in all competitions, are still without injured pair Millie Bright and Jelena Cankovic, but Melanie Leupolz will return to the bench.
Swedish side Hacken are top of Group D after victories over Paris and Real Madrid in their first two matches.
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