English Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton Sparks Controversy After Euro Final Penalty Shootout

Footage from England’s victorious penalty shootout against Spain has been questioned after Spanish goalkeeper Cata Coll challenged Hannah Hampton’s claim that she had thrown her opponent’s cheat sheet into the crowd. Hampton, who was exceptional during the shootout, stopped two penalties from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, the Ballon d’Or winner.

Hampton later revealed she noticed that Coll’s guide for penalty placement was taped to her water bottle. She claimed she disposed of it by tossing it into the stands, sparking debate. Coll responded on social media by mocking Hampton’s claim and sharing images suggesting Coll had kept her water bottle wrapped in a towel during the shootout.

Fans speculated whether Hampton was joking or if she had mistaken the correct bottle to discard. Hampton explained on talkSPORT that she removed the guide from Coll’s bottle and threw it away to prevent her from using it, as she believed the Spanish goalkeeper had taped it there for strategic advantage.

In the images circulating online, some observers noted a towel wrapped around Coll’s bottle, which was visible throughout the tense moments of the shootout. However, other unwrapped bottles nearby cast doubt on whether Hampton’s actions involved the specific bottle in question.

Hampton clarified, “The Spanish keeper had the info on her bottle, so I thought I’d just pick it up and chuck it into the crowd.” She added that she usually writes the info on her arm for quick reference, not on the bottle itself. Commentators questioned whether Hampton’s story was intended as a joke or if there was genuine controversy.

After the incident, Hampton’s impressive performance in the shootout earned her a nomination for the Yachine Trophy at the Ballon d’Or and made her the third-favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, behind fellow Lioness Chloe Kelly and Rory McIlroy.