Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold snubbed by Nike amid fan fury

Mackenzie Arnold has copped another brutal snub as fans continue to rage over their inability to support the Matildas favourite.

Calls from fans and players alike after some of the goalkeeping performances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup were deafening in their message – they want to buy goalkeepers’ jerseys.

Despite this, the jerseys of some of the most popular goalkeepers in the tournament were unable to be purchased by fans, while outfield player jerseys sold out in record numbers.

One particularly notable omission was Matildas cult hero Mackenzie Arnold, whose signature “invincible” black jersey is not available for purchase from supplier Nike.

Nike are also responsible for the jerseys of many of the other top teams in world football, including England’s Lionesses, whose goalkeeper Mary Earps has been at the centre of a vocal campaign to put her pink keepers’ shirt on sale.

Mackenzie Arnold became a cult hero for her efforts during the World Cup. (Photo by Chris Hyde – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Since the Manchester United stopper spoke out of the “very hurtful” feelings engendered by her jersey not being for sale, Nike have since backflipped on their decision – the company said in a statement that they would release “limited quantities” of goalkeeper jerseys from a select few nations.

The Netherlands, USA, England and France would all see their shot-stoppers represented among outfield players on the shelves, albeit belatedly – but Mackenzie Arnold’s jersey remains notably absent from Nike’s backflip announcement.

Despite Arnold’s status as the player of the tournament with the most clean sheets, and her regular club being one of the biggest in the world in West Ham, there were no indications that her jersey would be able to be sold alongside her peers.

Arnold said that she thought it would be “really cool” for fans to be able to purchase her jersey.

“Obviously, it would be really cool to see kids – or anyone really – with the goalkeeper jersey on, especially seeing how well goalkeepers have done throughout this whole tournament,” Arnold said after her penalty shootout heroics against France in the quarterfinal.

“In terms of why they don’t sell them, I’m not too sure.”

Mary Earps won the tournament’s Golden Glove, but her jersey is as-yet unavailable for sale. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Earps revealed to The Guardian UK that she was not consulted in the initial decision, and found out via an ad campaign launch.

“It is hugely disappointing and very hurtful,” Earps said at the time.

“It is something I have been fighting behind closed doors.

“I have been trying to go through the correct channels as much as possible, which is why I have not spoken on it publicly – even though I have been asked a lot about it over the past few months – because I have been desperately trying to find a solution with the FA and with Nike.

“Unfortunately, it has become very evident that is not possible and there is not going to be an acceptable solution for the young kids out there. On a personal level, it is hugely hurtful considering the last 12 months especially. There has been an incredible rise in goalkeeping participation.

“I raised this last year (around the Euros, when her shirt also wasn’t available) and it was: ‘Don’t worry, next year. It was Covid, manufacturing issues’.

“Then this year it has happened again.

“It is the young kids I am most concerned about.

“They are going to say, ‘Mum, Dad, can I have a Mary Earps shirt?’ and they say, ‘I can’t, but I can get you an Alessia Russo 23 or a Rachel Daly 9’.

“What you are saying is that goalkeeping isn’t important, but you can be a striker if you want.”

Nike responded after the World Cup final, signalling the company’s commitment to a greater range of jerseys that include goalkeeping kits in future.

“We recognise 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,” a Nike spokesperson said.

Optus Sport have since reported that Nike are “in conversation with other federation partners”, and that the company is in conversations with Football Australia on the issue.

Originally published as Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold snubbed by Nike amid fan fury