Nike has said it will manufacture replicas of Mary Earp’s England goalkeeper shirt, following a backlash from furious fans that the star Lioness’s top was not available to buy.
The company made a U-turn after they were hit by a wave of criticism, with more than 150,000 people signing a petition, which was submitted to Parliament, requesting a replica of the shirt be made available from the company,
Earps, 30, received the Golden Glove at the Women’s World Cup, an award recognizing the top goalkeeper in the tournament.
Previously, Nike, the official World Cup kit provider to the Lionesses, had acknowledged the growing interest in goalkeeper shirts, but did not produce them despite similar kits being available for men’s teams.
Earps had told the BBC that Nike’s stance had been “hugely disappointing and very hurtful” and she had sought talks with both the brand and the Football Association.
However, Nike has now agreed to make available “limited quantities” of Earps shirts. It told i: “We’ve seen and share the unprecedented passion and interest in women’s football this year and remain committed to playing our part by offering the best products and services to athletes and fans. We invested more in this year’s WC than any other global tournament to date.
“Nike has secured limited quantities of goalkeeper jerseys for England, US, France, and the Netherlands to be sold through the Federation websites over the coming days, and we are also in conversations with our other Federation partners.
“We recognize that during the tournament we didn’t serve those fans who wished to show their passion and support to the squad’s goalkeepers. We are committed to retailing women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future.”
Nike – the world’s largest sportswear company – had earlier been criticised after posting a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying it was “working toward solutions for future tournaments in partnership with Fifa and the federations. The fact that there’s a conversation on this topic is a testament to the continued passion and energy around the women’s game, and we believe that’s encouraging.”
Ms Earps had reposted that statement to her Instagram account, adding herself: “Is this your version of an apology/taking accountability/a powerful statement of intent?”
Typically, sportswear companies have not manufactured goalkeeper shirts to the same extent as shirts for outfield positions, saying they do not produce equivalent sales.
But Earps, who plays for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League, rebuffed the idea her shirt wouldn’t sell. “My shirt on the Manchester United website was sold out last season,” she said.
Before Nike’s U-turn, England star Beth Mead told the BBC: “She’s the best in the world right now, and she doesn’t have a jersey. She doesn’t have a shirt that young boys and girls can buy.”
Replica goalkeeper jerseys were available to buy for four of the teams Nike sponsored in last year’s mens World Cup.
i has contacted Nike for comment.
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