Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has opened up about the backlash she faced following her retirement from international soccer just before the European Championship. Earps achieved hero status in England after playing a pivotal role in the nation’s triumph at the last European Championship in 2022 and their journey to the World Cup final the subsequent year.
Despite her accomplishments, Earps has recently spoken about the criticism she encountered upon announcing her decision to retire from the England team only weeks before they were set to defend their title in Switzerland. While not pinpointing the exact sources of the negative feedback, she described the experience as “difficult and painful,” feeling as though she was “villainized.”
At the age of 32, Earps, currently with Paris Saint-Germain, had earlier claimed the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year accolade after the World Cup. During the tournament, she earned the golden glove award as the best goalkeeper and made a crucial penalty save in the final game. When retiring, she stated her intention was to step aside for the younger generation to have a chance.
In a conversation on “Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place” podcast, Earps expressed how upsetting it was to watch her friends and family grapple with the opinions shared about her withdrawal from international duty. “I know you’ve seen something and then I’m like upset for them because I’m like ‘You didn’t choose this, you’ve got to now deal with this,’ and I’m then gutted for them,” she explained.
Earps’ heartfelt reflection sheds light on the personal challenges faced by athletes when making significant career decisions, particularly when those choices invite public scrutiny.