Mary Earps Called Out Over Luis Rubiales Kiss Comment Amid Hannah Hampton Backlash

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been criticised over a page in her new autobiography which covers the sexual assault of Spain striker Jenni Hermoso by RFEF president Luis Rubiales following the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Spain defeated England 1-0 in Sydney to win their first World Cup, with left-back Olga Carmona scoring the only goal in the first half.

As the winning team walked up to collect their medals, Rubiales kissed Hermoso - who started the match and played the full 90 minutes - on the lips.

Hermoso stated that the kiss was unsolicited and, after a criminal trial was held in Madrid, Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault.

The 48-year-old, who had already been given a three-year ban from football by FIFA and had resigned from the RFEF, was also fined €10,000.

At a FIFA disciplinary hearing in December 2023, FA chair Debbie Hewitt said that Rubiales also inappropriately touched England players Laura Coombs and Lucy Bronze during the medal ceremony.

Lionesses goalkeeper Earps, who saved a penalty from Hermoso in the final, briefly covers the assault of the Spain striker in her new autobiography, 'All In'.

Spain players wrote an open letter in support of Hermoso (number 10) after the allegations made against Rubiales (Image: Getty)

In an extract published in The Guardian, Earps starts the chapter by writing: "There were three huge talking points from the 2023 World Cup. One was the unspeakable kiss that Spain's football federation president Luis Rubiales planted on Jenni Hermoso as she collected her gold medal, which would later lead to his resignation and prosecution.

"The other two talking points both related to me."

While some fans have claimed that she will have been keen to make reference to the seriousness of that incident alongside her own accomplishments at the tournament in what is a book about herself, there has been criticism online over how Earps has written it.

One wrote: "I didn't think Earps could look worse than yesterday, but she's outdone herself."

Another said: "Jenni was assaulted but anyway back to me!!!"

A third added: "Who is advising her?"

While a fourth wrote: "Feels like she's trying to talk about the buzz around her post-WC23 without sounding like she's ignoring Rubiales, but somehow this makes it sound MORE dismissive."

Earps has previously, it must be noted, spoken out publicly about Rubiales, telling GQ in November 2023: "They've [Spain players] managed to voice their concerns in a really thorough way, which is fantastic.

In her autobiography, she added: "My penalty save in the final had been viewed as heroic and, even, perfect.

"Even people who weren't into football were excited about the display, praising the execution, the composure and the swearing that followed, which was celebrated by women for its passion and deliverance and criticised by others who would never have picked up on, let alone noticed it, in a man celebrating the biggest save - or any other feat - of his life."

Earps criticises Hannah Hampton

The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper had already courted controversy over the weekend when her comments on Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton were published online.

Earps retired from international duty ahead of the Women's Euro 2025 after being told that Hampton would be replacing her as the number one goalkeeper for the tournament.

Hampton subsequently played a crucial role in England winning Euro 2025, and she was named in UEFA's Team of the Tournament.

The 24-year-old was also nominated for the Ballon d'Or, and won the inaugural Yashin Trophy - an award presented to her by Earps - for the year's best women's goalkeeper.

Hannah Hampton and Mary Earps pictured during the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony (Image: Getty)

Earps claimed that Hampton, who was dropped from England's squad in October 2022, had 'frequently risked derailing training sessions and team resources' prior to that decision.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman stated publicly that Hampton's absence was due to 'something personal' and refused to comment further.

She was recalled to the squad in March 2023, before then moving from Aston Villa to Women's Super League champions Chelsea that summer.

Hampton became Chelsea's number one by the end of her first season, and in 2024 was close to overtaking Earps as England's number one.

But in her autobiography, Earps says she told Wiegman that the Dutch boss was 'rewarding bad behaviour' in deciding to give Hampton more opportunities between the sticks - over a year after she was initially dropped.

She added: "It was a choice that went against my core values. I couldn't get my head around it because when my values are compromised, the strain always felt heavy enough to keep me up at night."

Hampton has not commented on Earps' remarks, but did praise her former England team-mate in an interview with Glamour Magazine after winning the Woman of the Year award last week.

"It was a lovely moment when Mary was on stage at the Ballon d'Or [to present her with the Yashin Trophy]," Hampton said.

"She'd pushed so much for that award, and she pushed for the women's game and for women's goalkeepers to be seen and recognised.

Hampton has only posted to social media once since Earps' comments, after winning a Woman of the Year award (Image: Instagram/@hannahhampton)

"Everything she's done for the England game and women's football in general is something I've wanted to continue and build on. I've got big shoes and big gloves to fill. I'm trying my hardest."

Sonia Bompastor, Hampton's manager at Chelsea, criticised Earps after her side's 2-0 win over London City Lionesses on Saturday, accusing her of showing a 'lack of respect'.

She said: "I think Hannah is fine, but of course it's tough because Hannah is an athlete but also a person. That's never nice to hear these comments.

"Since I joined Chelsea she has grown so much and is such a professional athlete and also a good person.

"With what I read in terms of the comments coming from Mary Earps, it's not acceptable to not show respect to your team-mates or managers. We are talking about Hannah, but I also want to raise my voice for Sarina.

"If you look at what Hannah said in her previous comments about Mary Earps, then what Mary is saying about her now - one of them is class, and Hannah is the class one."