Aaryan Aggarwal denies sending racist message to Jess Carter

Aaryan Aggarwal, 19, has pleaded not guilty to sending a racist Instagram message to England defender Jess Carter during the UEFA Women’s European Championship in 2025. The charge, brought before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, alleges that Aggarwal sent a message containing a racial slur following England’s quarter-final victory over Sweden on 17 July 2025.

Aggarwal, from Chigwell, Essex, is accused of sending a communication via a public network that was “offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing.” The magistrate has released the defendant on bail with conditions prohibiting any contact with Carter or online posts regarding her. A trial is scheduled to take place at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court, with dates cited as either March 2027 or October 2027.

This incident follows previous reports of online abuse targeting Carter. She previously shared the psychological impact of such harassment, noting that racial abuse during tournaments had previously made her feel unsafe leaving her hotel room.