In a survey conducted by the European Clubs Association, a staggering 82% of players in women’s football expressed discomfort when wearing football boots.

The ECA surveyed 350 players from 16 of Europe’s top clubs, with the findings forming the basis of new research into football equipment’s impact on the women’s game.

According to the ECA’s research, the majority of boots are designed with white men in mind, with only a limited number specifically catering to women and their anatomy – a large number of players referenced discomfort in their heel, a feeling that was more common amongst Black players.

The new research comes after reports from sports scientists claimed football boots (and balls) designed for men put players in the women’s game at higher risk for injury.

The ECA linked improper footwear to Achilles tendon injuries and metatarsal stress fractures, with two in five players saying that the current football boot market does not offer good injury prevention.

This research comes at a crucial time, considering the rise in ACL injuries that women’s football has experienced in the last year alone.

Although more major sportswear brands have begun designing boots with women in mind, the equipment options for women in football are still incredibly limited. Compared to the endless options available to men for increased touch, control, and other on-pitch benefits, women have one or two options per brand to choose from.

As women’s football continues to grow worldwide, it is time for that growth to be reflected in the equipment offered to them. The rising rate at which players are picking up season and career-ending injuries is incredibly concerning and something that the football equipment industry as a whole needs to include at the heart of their production moving forward.

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