Piers Morgan leads complaints after Earps wins BBC Sport Personality of the Year

Piers Morgan lead the complaints on social media after England star Mary Earps won BBC Sport Personality of the Year on Tuesday night.

The Lionesses goalkeeper had been the overwhelming favourite to scoop the annual gong in Salford, as she followed tennis star Emma Raducanu and England team-mate Beth Mead in receiving the accolade.

The award furthered confirmed the growth of women's football with back-to-back winners, as well as Earps own soaring profile in recent years.

Earps, who was part of England’s victorious Euros squad in 2022, helped the Lionesses reach the final of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in Australia and New Zealand.

Despite Earps' role in England's World Cup run this year, some - including Piers Morgan - insisted that the Lionesses' star should not have claimed the award.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday, Morgan wrote: 'Trying to get my head around two of England’s women footballers winning BBC SPOTY in successive years… while male sporting superstars with great personalities like Rory McIlroy, Frankie Dettori & Ronnie O’Sullivan have never won it'.

Another angry user wrote: 'And World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan didn’t win because….. Fair play to Mary Earps but there were 10 other players in that team. #SPOTY23'

'Can I ask why Mary Earps has won SPOTY? What’s she done apart from save a pen in a major competition????? BBC snobbery means deserved winners like Ronnie O’ Sullivan never get a look in,' one fan queried.

'#SPOTY being won by Mary Earps is a bit of a joke… they didn’t even qualify for the Olympics,' another user pointed out.

One user wrote: 'Of course Mary Earps won. What a joke. Completely undeserved #BBCSPOTY'.

'#maryearps wins #SPOTY23 for helping England win nothing. Oh but she did save a penalty so guess that’s enough, such a political winner this year 2nd and 3rd weren’t much better either,' another said.

Interestingly, Joey Barton - who recently shared a series of misogynistic posts on social media - weighed in on Earps' triumph but in unexpected fashion.

In a simple post, Barton wrote: 'Well done Mary,' with a number of hand-clapping emoji accompanying the message.

Reflecting on her triumph at the BBC Sport Personality of the Year awards, Earps said: ‘This is the ultimate all-round sporting accolade.

'This is just... wow. It’s not been the easiest journey, I wouldn’t be here without the help of so many, people who have been with me through the really not so great times. I have done more than I can ever have imagined.'

Earps played every minute in England’s run to the World Cup final, conceding only four times. She could hardly have done more to swing the balance of the final, which ultimately ended with a narrow defeat to Spain, in England’s favour.

The 30-year-old conceded just four goals during the tournament, keeping three clean sheets to ultimately claim the Golden Glove award.