Former Soccer Player Says They Were ‘Villainized’ After Retirement

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps said she felt villainized aft she announced her status from world shot up of nan European Championship.

Earps became a nationalist leader for her domiciled successful England’s triumph astatine nan past Euros successful 2022 and its tally to nan World Cup last a twelvemonth later.

But she has spoken retired astir nan curen she received erstwhile deciding to extremity her England profession past period — conscionable weeks earlier nan squad starts its defense of nan trophy successful Switzerland.

Earps did not specify wherever nan disapproval came from, but said it was “difficult and it was painful” and that she was “villainized successful a way.”

The 32-year-old Paris Saint-Germain keeper won nan prestigious BBC Sports Personality of nan Year grant aft nan World Cup, successful which she collected nan aureate mitt for nan champion goalkeeper successful nan tourney and besides saved a punishment successful nan final.

At nan clip of her retirement, Earps said she was stepping speech to springiness an opportunity to a younger generation.

Speaking to nan podcast “Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place,” she said it was difficult to spot her friends and family dealing pinch comments made astir her decision.

“I cognize you’ve seen thing and past I’m for illustration upset for them because I’m for illustration ‘You didn’t take this, you’ve sewage to now woody pinch this,’ and I’m past gutted for them,” she said.