Mary Earps has hit back at Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor after the French coach criticised her for comments about Hannah Hampton and England boss Sarina Wiegman. The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who recently released her autobiography titled All In, insisted she never meant to “intentionally hurt” anyone with her words.
Bompastor defends Hampton and Wiegman
Before Chelsea’s 2-0 win over London City Lionesses, Bompastor strongly defended Hampton, calling Earps’ remarks “unacceptable” and “disrespectful.” She also backed Wiegman, saying, “When you speak about someone who’s won three consecutive Euros, you should think before you talk.” The Chelsea boss praised Hampton’s professionalism, adding that “everyone at the club stands behind her.”
The row began when excerpts from Earps’ book surfaced, claiming Wiegman “rewarded bad behaviour” by recalling Hampton to the England squad. Earps, now playing for Paris Saint-Germain, said she wanted to protect the positive energy and morale within the Lionesses camp. Hampton, who replaced Earps as England’s No.1 and starred in their Euro 2025 triumph, has not publicly commented on the issue.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor says Hannah Hampton has the club's full support in the wake of recent comments by Mary Earps.
Former England goalkeeper Earps says she told Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman she was rewarding "bad behaviour" by recalling Hampton to the squad, having… pic.twitter.com/CpyVXYykwg
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 1, 2025
In a lengthy Instagram post, Mary Earps addressed the growing backlash. “It’s not easy being this open and honest,” she wrote. “I know my words divide opinion, but this isn’t about drama—it’s my truth.” Earps urged fans to read her book in full, not judge from isolated quotes, and stressed, “I would never intentionally hurt someone. People can experience the same situation differently.”
Author’s opinion
This episode highlights the delicate balance between honesty and perception in football. Earps’ openness offers rare insight, but her timing and phrasing have drawn heavy fire. Bompastor’s defence of Hampton shows Chelsea’s unity, while Earps’ heartfelt response reveals her emotional toll. The situation remains tense yet fascinating. Both sides believe they’re standing for integrity—but only time will cool this storm.
As featured on Chelseanews.com