Nike has agreed to sell “limited quantities” of Mary Earps’s England goalkeeper shirt following a backlash against its original failure to make it available for supporters to buy.
However, Nike has not confirmed if it will make the product available to fans of all ages and sizes.
On the eve of the Women’s World Cup, Earps – who went on to win the competition’s ‘Golden Glove’ award for the best goalkeeper – issued a damning criticism of Nike for not selling her shirt, saying that a “scary message is being sent to goalkeepers worldwide that you are not important”.
A change.org petition calling on Nike to change its stance surpassed 150,000 signatures on Thursday and the clothing company has told the New York Times they will be selling goalkeeper shirts from four competing teams at the World Cup including England.
“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 conversation with our other federation partners,” said a Nike spokeswoman. The statement added that Nike is “committed to retailing women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future”.
In an earlier statement issued by Nike after Sunday’s final, it did not make such a promise, instead saying it was “committed to women’s football and we’re excited by the passion around this year’s tournament”.
Earps questioned that statement on her Instagram account on Tuesday, saying: “@Nike is this your version of an apology/taking accountability/a powerful statement of intent?”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has responded to the news by describing Nike’s decision as “overdue, but the right move”, saying she now looked forward to seeing fans wearing the shirt.
She said in a statement on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter: “Overdue, but the right move from @Nike. Just when thousands of women and girls across the nation are being inspired to get into football, thanks to the likes of Mary Earps, goalkeepers must be given the same recognition as outfield players.
“As Karen Carney’s report made clear, there is vast investment potential to help grow the women’s game. It’s no longer acceptable to claim there isn’t a market for producing replica shirts. I look forward to seeing fans wearing the shirt when @Lionesses play next month.”
It is not yet clear how much “limited quantity” Nike has agreed to sell, but a source close to the Lionesses squad on Thursday accused Nike of trying to “save face” by simply selling shirts that were not worn by goalkeepers during the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
The Football Association has also been approached for comment.
