Former Lionesses star Karen Carney has revealed the profound impact that criticism of her football punditry has had on her. While she strives to be the best and is her own biggest critic, the negativity from others has been crushing.
Carney, now a respected voice in football analysis, found herself at the center of a storm in 2021 after offering commentary on Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League. Following Leeds' 5-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion, Carney suggested that Leeds "got promoted because of Covid, in terms of it gave them a bit of respite". The club's official Twitter account then posted a clip of Carney's remarks, questioning her analysis. This sparked a wave of online abuse directed at Carney, with many messages containing sexist and misogynistic sentiments. Examples of the abuse included being called a "silly bitch", a "stupid slag" and told to "get back in the kitchen".
The incident led to Carney deleting her Twitter account due to the escalating abuse. While Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani defended the club's tweet, stating that Carney's comment was "completely unnecessary and disrespectful," many criticized the club's actions for inciting online attacks. Fellow women in football rallied around Carney, denouncing the cyberbullying she faced. Beth England called the behavior "atrocious" and condemned the "mass online abuse for DOING HER JOB AND HAVING HER OPINION".
Despite the challenges, Carney remains determined to contribute to the sport. She is involved in the Pixel FC Academy, a program aimed at helping aspiring female broadcasters break into the industry. This initiative provides educational workshops and work placements to address the underrepresentation of women in sports media. Carney believes that the industry is still male-dominated, with 70% of women sharing this sentiment.
Carney focuses on being well-prepared and informed in her punditry, striving to be "classy" and the best she can be. Although she admits that the criticism affected her deeply, she is determined not to be deterred and wants to help the next generation of women in a male-dominated industry.
