England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps has launched a stinging criticism of hotel chain Hampton by Hilton over what she describes as a 'hugely disappointing' promotional campaign that excluded goalkeepers.
The controversy emerged when the company, an official partner of both the England women's and men's teams, released customisable shirts featuring outfield players' names and numbers only, completely overlooking the crucial goalkeeping position.
Global Players' Union Backs Earps
FIFPRO, the international players' union, swiftly condemned the campaign, stating they were 'very concerned' by the partnership activation that failed to include all playing positions. The union confirmed they were actively addressing the issue with both the hotel chain and the Football Association.
Earps, who achieved cult hero status during England's Euro 2022 triumph and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, took to social media to express her frustration. 'It's a huge promotion and a huge brand - one of the partners of the England team - and to not include goalkeepers, I think, is hugely disappointing,' the 31-year-old shot-stopper stated.
Pattern of Goalkeeper Neglection
This isn't the first time Earps has faced such disappointments. The Lionesses' number one revealed that Nike initially refused to sell replicas of her goalkeeper shirt to fans, only relenting after overwhelming public demand saw the kit sell out within minutes.
'You can't have a campaign where you can literally be any player - but not a goalkeeper,' Earps emphasised. 'You can't have a campaign where you're using my teammates to promote the fact that you can be any player, but you've omitted the goalkeeper.'
Broader Implications for Women's Sport
The incident raises serious questions about the treatment of goalkeepers in football marketing and highlights ongoing challenges in the commercial representation of women's sports. Despite record-breaking attendances and growing popularity, such oversights suggest deeper issues in how female athletes are valued by corporate partners.
Hampton by Hilton has yet to make a public statement regarding the criticism from one of English football's most prominent figures, leaving fans and players alike waiting to see how the company will address this significant oversight.
