Chelsea and England defender Millie Bright has issued a powerful message to fans after experiencing abuse following a match against Aston Villa, despite having fulfilled requests for photos and autographs.
The 31-year-old Lionesses star, who has established herself as a cornerstone of both club and country with seven WSL titles and four FA Cup victories to her name, faced criticism during Chelsea's recent away fixture. The European Championship winner found herself in an uncomfortable situation when a supporter who had requested a photo and autograph subsequently labeled her performance as "fcking sht."
Bright took to Instagram to address the incident, emphasizing that players are "not collectables" and deserve respect regardless of their performance. In her heartfelt message, she stated, "Yesterday I experienced hearing a fans comment that I was 'fcking sht' in the first half. Now everyone can have their opinion, what was said I don't actually care about but it was more the fact that this came after they'd asked for photos + signatures."
The defender continued, "Please may I remind you that as players we are not collectables, we are not robots, we are humans the same as you. After every game we as players make a choice to give you our time, support + generosity to do photos, signatures, have conversation because we care + respect you travelling to support us."
Bright particularly expressed concern about the impact such behavior could have on her teammates, noting, "I'm glad it was me you made this comment about and not my teammates." She emphasized that players consistently give their all in every match, acknowledging that while perfection isn't always achievable, their commitment remains unwavering.
The incident occurred during what ultimately proved to be a successful outing for Chelsea, as they secured a 1-0 victory through Sarah Mayling's own goal in the 82nd minute. The win helped maintain Chelsea's impressive unbeaten run in the 2024-25 season, keeping them seven points clear at the summit of the WSL table.
