The UK Parliament's Women and Equalities Committee said in a report published on Tuesday that the sport sector's response to the high proportion of female footballers suffering anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries was “disjointed and slow”.
England duo Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, Dutch forward Vivienne Miedema and Canada's Janine Beckie are among a group of elite players to miss the 2023 Women's World Cup due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries. there was.
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In its report titled “Health Barriers for Girls and Women in Sport'', the commission highlighted the lack of soccer cleats specifically designed for women.
“In addition to a potential link with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, there is evidence that football cleats cause widespread problems for many female players,” the report said.
She added that the department needs to do more to increase the availability of equipment and kits specifically for women.
“The sports science department's response to the ACL issue was disjointed and slow,” the report said.
“There is no question that if a health issue of a similar magnitude affecting elite male footballers had arisen, we would have had a quicker, more thorough and better coordinated response.”
The Committee also called on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee to establish a taskforce to develop a long-term strategy to address the issue.
A report released in 2023 by the European Football Club Association found that 82% of female players in Europe also feel uncomfortable when wearing boots.
Sportswear brands say they are investing in gear specifically for women, but retailers will be reluctant to stock gear for women due to lack of awareness of the growing business opportunity claims that it is possible.
