Mary Earps replica goalkeeper shirt to be sold by Nike after backlash
A limited number of replicas of the shirt worn by England goalkeeper Mary Earps during the World Cup are finally being made available by Nike following a backlash from fans.
Replica outfield players’ kits have been on sale – but Earps’s was not included.
More than 73,000 people have signed a petition urging Nike to do a u-turn.
The company said it acknowledged the “unprecedented passion and interest in women’s football this year”.
It added: “We recognise that during the tournament we didn’t serve those fans who wished to show their passion and support to the squads’ goalkeepers.”
There will be “limited quantities of goalkeeper jerseys for England, the US, France and the Netherlands to be sold through the federation websites over the coming days”, Nike went on.
It has yet to confirm how many shirts will be available or when they will be on sale.
It is also “committed to retailing women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future”.
Earps spoke out on the controversy earlier this week when Nike issued a statement saying it was “committed to women’s football” despite the fact the shirts weren’t on sale.
“We hear and understand the desire for a retail version of a goalkeeper jersey and we are working towards solutions for future tournaments,” the manufacturer said.
Earps, 30, responded on Instagram: “@Nike, is this your version of an apology/taking accountability /a powerful statement of intent?”.
Prior to the World Cup, Earps said the lack of a replica shirt represented a “scary message being sent to goalkeepers worldwide that you are not important”.
She added: “[Kids] are going to say ‘Mum, dad, can I have a Mary Earps shirt?’ And they’ll say, ‘I can’t, but I can get you an Alessia Russo 23, or a Rachel Daly 9.’
“And so what you are saying is that goalkeeping isn’t important, but you can be a striker if you want.”
Earps played in every minute of England’s World Cup games and saved a penalty in the final against Spain.
She was awarded the goalkeeper of the tournament award, the Golden Glove.