Hannah Hampton Calls Out Media Bias Against Women Goalkeepers After Award-Winning Season

(England and Chelsea goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton. Photo by BBC)

Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has spoken out against what she describes as unbalanced media coverage of women's goalkeepers, arguing that errors are heavily amplified while strong performances tend to go unrecognised.

Her comments came after she claimed the Women's Super League Golden Glove award for the second season running. Speaking at the WSL awards ceremony, Hampton noted that female goalkeepers face a level of scrutiny that is rarely matched by acknowledgement when they perform well, saying there is simply not enough celebration of the positive contributions they make.

The 25-year-old has had a standout year, playing a key role in helping England retain the European Championship title at Euro 2025, where she produced crucial saves in a penalty shootout.

She was later recognised as the world's best female goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Despite these achievements, Hampton expressed frustration that online platforms and media outlets tend to prioritise sharing clips of goalkeeping mistakes rather than highlighting the growth and quality of the women's game.

As reported online, she stressed that rushing to circulate error clips unfairly damages the reputation of women's goalkeeping at a time when the sport is working hard to earn the recognition it deserves.

She called on those in the industry to focus instead on celebrating success and lifting each other up, rather than tearing individuals down.

Hampton's journey to the top has not been without its challenges. In 2022, she was left out of the England squad shortly after the team's European Championship victory, following reports about her conduct.

She was recalled to the national setup in March 2023 after manager Sarina Wiegman confirmed that personal matters had been sorted out.

Hampton later opened up about how painful that period was, admitting she had come close to walking away from football altogether.

Adding to the difficulty, former England number one Mary Earps took aim at Hampton in her autobiography, claiming she had advised Wiegman against bringing her back due to concerns about her reliability and behaviour.

Despite the personal tensions, Hampton emphasised the importance of unity among goalkeepers, saying the unique pressures that come with the position are something only fellow goalkeepers can truly appreciate.

She added that watching other goalkeepers produce outstanding saves motivates and inspires her to keep raising her own standards.

Hampton also took the opportunity to shine a light on Sophie Whitehouse of Charlton Athletic Women, praising her progress and performances throughout the season and suggesting her contributions deserve more recognition, particularly with Charlton facing Leicester City in the promotion play-offs.