Teenager denies racist message to Jess Carter

A 19-year-old has pleaded not guilty to sending a racist message to England defender Jess Carter on Instagram, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard.

Aaryan Aggarwal, of Dickens Rise in Chigwell, Essex, is accused of using a racial slur after calling Carter "stupid" and "ugly" on 17 July 2025, while she was playing in England's Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden.

"This was an incident on the 17 July 2025. The England footballer Jess Carter was currently playing in the Euro 2025 tournament," said prosecutor Grace Court. "Following a game against Sweden, she received a message." Court said the message read "well done, stupid ugly" before the slur.

Aggarwal denied sending a public communication that was offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing. He was arrested in September in connection with the investigation. Deputy district judge Christopher Maynard set a trial date of 3 March at Cambridge Magistrates' Court and released Aggarwal on bail, on condition he does not contact Carter or post about her online.

"If you breach that condition or fail to turn up to court when you're required to do so, it's likely you'll be arrested and brought into custody," Maynard warned him.

Carter, 28, from Warwick, spent six years at Chelsea FC Women before her move to Gotham FC in the United States in 2024. She was part of the England squad that won Euro 2022, England's first major women's title.