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Nike Makes Mary Earps GK Jersey Available After Criticism

Man United's Mary Earps gives goalkeeping masterclass (2:41)

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps gives ESPN FC's Ralph Karumazondo a masterclass in the art of goalkeeping. (2:41)

Nike released a replica jersey for England goalkeeper Mary Earps on Monday, after facing widespread criticism for not selling the popular Women's World Cup finalist's shirt.

In an Instagram story on Monday, Earps said she was not aware the jerseys would be going on sale, but thanked her followers for their "incredible support."

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Earps also said the jerseys had sold out on the same day they were released. Nike would not comment on whether the jersey sold out, or how many it sold, but the shirts do not currently appear for sale on its website or through the England Football Association's website.

In a statement to Reuters, the company said that "more will be for sale later this season."

Mary Earps has earned 43 caps for England since her debut in 2017. Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Earps was one of the standout stars of the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, earning FIFA's Golden Glove award. She was voted England Women's Player of the Year last month.

Nike previously faced backlash from fans and from Earps herself after replicas of the goalkeeper's jersey were not made available during the competition, which ended on Aug. 20 with a Spain victory against England.

More than 170,000 people signed a Change.Org petition calling on Nike to sell jerseys for Earps and other women goalkeepers.

The England men's goalkeeper jersey is available to buy on Nike's website.

Nike announced on Aug. 24 that it would make its women's teams goalkeeper kits available for fans, telling Reuters it had "secured limited quantities of goalkeeper jerseys for England, U.S., France and the Netherlands to be sold through the Federation websites over the coming days."

The company did not comment on why it chose to release Earps' jersey in October.

Nike produced 13 of the 32 team jerseys for the Women's World Cup. Its England kits became an added source of revenue after the U.S. Team, which it has sponsored since 1995, suffered their earliest exit ever in the tournament, creating a major loss in earnings potential.

Sports sponsorship is a major sales driver for apparel manufacturers. Last month, Nike executives told investors the company beat sell-through plans and saw double-digit growth across its global football category in the quarter ended Aug. 31, which included this year's 2023 tournament.

WNBA NIKE REBEL EDITION

Atlanta Dream

The sound of Atlanta is defined by the city's unmatched impact on Hip-Hop and R&B. For the Atlanta Dream Nike Rebel Edition uniform, the legacy of the scene's legendary female recording artists is celebrated with vibrant colors, strapping side-striping, and confident lettering—a salute to the swagger, creativity, and iconicity of ATL's most influential female musicians.

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Indiana Fever

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Nike Implicated In Soccer Bribery Scheme

It appears as if Nike is suspected by U.S. Authorities of connection to bribery involving the sponsorship of the Brazilian national soccer federation (CBF).  The U.S. Department of Justice today announced the indictment of nine Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) officials and five businessmen for racketeering conspiracy and corruption. The DOJ's statement says that the crimes alleged include "the payment and receipt of bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sponsorship  of CBF by a major U.S. Sportswear company." A statement released later in the day by Nike appeared to confirm that it is the company under the microscope.

"Nike believes in ethical and fair play in both business and sport and strongly opposes any form of manipulation or bribery," the statement said. "We have been cooperating, and will continue to cooperate, with the authorities."

In 1996, U.S. Sportswear juggernaut Nike signed a roughly $200 million contract with the CBF, which gave the company the rights to supply sports kits and be a co-sponsor of the Brazilian national team.  Details concerning the terms of the deal began to leak in 1999.  The following is a snippet from a July 2001 article in The Guardian:

A clause stipulated Nike's right to organise five international games a year with at least eight first team regulars. Juca Kfouri, Brazil's leading sports columnist, said: "It is obvious to me that the CBF gave away sovereignty. The CBF is more interested in remuneration than the interests of the Brazilian national team."

Aldo Rebelo, a communist congressman in Brazil, was quoted in that same article stating that "Disney didn't sell Mickey Mouse, but the CBF sold the national team to Nike."  He added, "The Nike contract was just a sign.  It was the most visible way of showing what was going on in Brazilian football."

Prior to Nike, the CBF was under contract with Umbro.  In fact, Nike paid Umbro an undisclosed amount of money in order to void the final two years on its contract with the CBF.  Nike wanted to control the world of soccer and the focal point was taking over sponsorship of the Brazilian national soccer federation.

In 2008, Nike signed a new agreement with the CBF, which extended the previously negotiated deal through 2018.  The deal provides CBF with an annual payment of $34 million from Nike.

I reached out to a Director at Nike who provided no comment when this article was originally published.

Update: At 2:30 p.M. ET Nike released the following statement - "Like fans everywhere we care passionately about the game and are concerned by the very serious allegations.  Nike believes in ethical and fair play in both business and sport and strongly opposes any form of manipulation or bribery.  We have been cooperating, and will continue to cooperate, with the authorities."

Darren Heitner is a lawyer and the Founder of South Florida-based HEITNER LEGAL, P.L.L.C., which has a focus on Sports Law and Entertainment Law.

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