Former England GK Mary Earps Criticizes Coach Wiegman, Claims Hampton Rewarded for 'Bad Behaviour'

Mary Earps, former England goalkeeper and winner of Euro 2022, has publicly criticized England manager Sarina Wiegman for her handling of the goalkeeper position, particularly over the reinstatement of Hannah Hampton. Earps claims in her autobiography "All In" that Hampton, who replaced her as first-choice goalkeeper and was pivotal in England's Euro 2024 victory, displayed bad behavior that disrupted team dynamics, yet was rewarded by Wiegman with a recall to the squad. Earps disclosed that her relationship with Wiegman deteriorated as Hampton was favored, leading to feelings of injustice and a breakdown of trust, which contributed to her decision to retire from international duty just weeks before Euro 2025. She also stated that Wiegman was not fully transparent about her decision to promote Hampton, and that she felt manipulated into continuing before ultimately stepping away. Despite the controversy, Hampton has publicly spoken positively about Earps' contributions to women's football. The dispute highlights tensions within the Lionesses' squad and management as they navigated goalkeeper selections ahead of major tournaments.