Nike Finally Sells Women’s World Cup Goalkeeper Shirt Following Public Backlash

If there’s one thing Allianz’s Squared Ball campaign has spotlighted, it’s the inequalities female soccer players face in pursuing professional careers. Recently, despite the hype of England reaching the Women’s World Cup finals, Nike found itself on the receiving end of backlash.

While many eager fans looked to support the Lionesses with replica jerseys, those searching for the shirt of goalkeeper Mary Earps were disappointed to find that the sportswear giant had not made her kit available for purchase during the tournament.

Earps publicly called out the brand, which, in the past, has regularly sold goalkeeper shirts for the men’s team. Fuel was added to the fire when the skilled player won the title of best goalkeeper at the competition after she saved a penalty kick in the final.

According to NPR, over 150,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Nike to instate the jerseys, with politicians in the UK joining in on the push. It appears the outcry may have worked, with the label announcing it had “limited quantities” of the shirt for sale.

The kit in question, along with others from the United States, France, and the Netherlands, will be sold through each country’s official federation.

[via NPR and BBC, cover image via Filedimage | Dreamstime.com]