Hannah Hampton: Chelsea goalkeeper backed by Sonia Bombastor after Mary Earps comments

“We’re talking about Hannah, but I also want to raise my voice for Sarina [Wiegman]. When you use words about someone who has won the Euros three times in a row, you should probably think about it before you speak.

“If you look at what Hannah said in her previous comments about Mary Earps, what Mary says about her now — one of them is first-rate, Hannah is first-rate.”

Hampton has been left out of the England squad after Euro 2022, due to misconduct.

Wegman said it was a “personal matter” but later referred to Hampton, who saved two penalty kicks in their shootout victory over Spain in the Euro 2025 final.

The 24-year-old was also named Goalkeeper of the Year at the Ballon d’Or awards in September.

Earps played a key role in England’s victory at Euro 2022, saving Gini Hermoso’s penalty in the World Cup final against Spain a year later.

After her shock international retirement in June, Hampton said Earps had “changed” goalkeeping in women’s football.

“I think there’s been a lot of scrutiny that she probably doesn’t deserve, with everything she’s achieved in the game, as well as putting women’s goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation,” Hampton said at the time.

Hampton started Chelsea’s win over the London City Lionesses on Saturday, the morning after the first extracts from Earps’ book were released, and kept her third clean sheet in a row.

“It’s difficult because Hana is an athlete but she’s also a person,” Bombastor said. “I just want to say that since I joined Chelsea she has developed a lot and become a professional athlete and a good person as well.”

“We have a really good relationship together and I want to show her my support in this situation. Maybe what she was able to achieve today showed how classy and professional she is.

“I think she is the best goalkeeper in the world in many ways, as an athlete and mentally as well. We just want to show her respect and love.

“She knows she can trust me and come talk to me anytime she wants. But she’s fine for now.”