Former Lionesses No. 1 Mary Earps detailed her growing frustration as she believed the reinstatement of Hannah Hampton—whom she accused of “bad behaviour being rewarded”—signalled a breakdown in squad unity at England Women’s National Football Team and helped precipitate her decision to retire from international football.
- Mary Earps has opened up about behind-the-scenes tensions with Hannah Hampton in the Lionesses team squad, claiming she told head coach Sarina Wiegman that “bad behaviour is being rewarded” when Hampton was reinstated.
- The friction centered on Earps’ discomfort with Hampton’s recall and subsequent appointment as England’s No.1 goalkeeper, which Earps says left her feeling marginalised and contributed to her decision to retire from international football ahead of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
- Earps reveals that Wiegman consulted her about Hampton’s return in 2023, and Earps expressed that the decision made her feel “uncomfortable” despite the coach’s reasoning that “everyone deserves a second chance.”
In her forthcoming autobiography All In, Earps also discusses her personal battles—weight issues, binge-eating, alcohol—during the COVID-19 lockdown and broader emotional strain beyond the pitch.
