Lucy Bronze Urges Players to Speak Up After Refugee Work in Colombia

Chelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze has called on footballers to speak publicly about issues affecting the sport, while detailing her work with refugees during a summer visit to Colombia. In an interview published by The Guardian on Saturday, Bronze linked her advocacy inside football with a broader commitment to supporting people away from the pitch.

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Bronze serves on the Professional Footballers’ Association players’ board alongside Arsenal midfielder Kim Little and is also involved in work connected to Fifpro and UEFA. She told The Guardian that contributing to the game’s development can be emotionally demanding, but said she has the energy to pursue several projects at once.

Her recent interventions have included criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and support for players pressing for change in the way the sport is governed. Before Chelsea’s 5-2 first-leg victory over Real Sociedad in a Champions League qualifier, Bronze explained why she had shared a social-media post from former France defender Mikael Silvestre calling for change at the top of FIFA. She said the moment was right for players to speak up.

Bronze also used the summer to make a UNHCR-related trip to Colombia that had been planned for several years. She said England head coach Sarina Wiegman had previously advised against making the journey close to major tournaments because of the travel demands and potential jet lag. With no major international women’s tournament this summer, Bronze was finally able to go.

The Guardian reported that Bronze spent time with refugee children and brought football shirts, including shirts supplied by Chelsea teammate Naomi Girma. Bronze described meeting a refugee girl who captained a boys’ football team and telling her about Girma’s family background. Girma’s parents were refugees, and Bronze said the story gave the girl an example of a family rebuilding its life.

Bronze has now returned to club duties with Chelsea, where she sees the coming season as another stage in the team’s development under Sonia Bompastor. She also welcomed the decision to stage all Women’s Super League home matches at Stamford Bridge, beginning against Aston Villa next Saturday, describing the move as a sign of the club’s ambition for its women’s team.