England sponsors Nike u-turn & now WILL sell Earps' WWC shirt after petition

England sponsors Nike have finally backed down on their controversial decision not to sell replicas of goalkeeper Mary Earps' World Cup shirt, according to reports.

The sportswear manufacturer had been fiercely criticised for refusing to sell the shirt worn by Lioness heroine Earps - as well as the United States, France and Holland - by fans, players and even the British government.

A petition against the 'commercial decision' not to stock goalkeeper kits has reached 150,000 signatures, while Earps - dubbed 'Mary Queen of Stops' after her penalty save in the World Cup final - is among the stars to have slammed Nike for failing to do so.

But the company has now u-turned, with a spokesperson telling the New York Times that they had 'secured limited quantities of the jerseys to be sold through the federation websites over the coming days, and we are also in conversations with our other federation partners'.

The fashion giant came in for criticism even before the tournament started when it became apparent Earps' replica shirts would not be available.

Desperate fans even resorted to making their own Earps shirts and the petition, set up by a teenage fan of the Manchester United star, quickly gained traction.

The 30-year-old Lioness was hailed as a standout heroine of England's World Cup final Spain on Sunday, which later saw her being awarded the coveted Golden Glove, recognising her as the best keeper of the tournament.

Earps savaged Nike after the company released a statement that defended the company's decision amid the backlash.

After Sunday's final, which Spain won 1-0, Nike said: 'Nike is committed to women's football and we're excited by the passion around this year's tournament and the incredible win by the Lionesses to make it into the final.

'We are proudly offering the best of Nike innovation and services to our federation partners and hundreds of athletes.

'We hear and understand the desire for a retail version of a goalkeeper jersey and we are working towards solutions for future tournaments, in partnership with FIFA and the federations.

'The fact that there's a conversation on this topic is testament to the continued passion and energy around the women's game and we believe that's encouraging.'

But on Tuesday afternoon, Earps posted a screenshot of the statement on her Instagram stories, adding the comment: '@Nike is this your version of an apology/taking accountability/a powerful statement of intent?'

In a following post, Earps provided a link to the change.org petition that started in July.

Beth Mead, who missed the World Cup through injury, also criticised Nike. She told BBC Sport: 'She’s the best in the world right now, and she doesn’t have a jersey.

'She doesn’t have a shirt that young boys and girls can buy.'

In a sly dig at the fashion giant following Sunday's final in Sydney, Australia, former England men's keeper David Seaman tweeted: 'Bet @Nike are regretting not selling the #MaryEarps shirt now.'

Earps discovered she had been left out of promotional pictures when the Lionesses World Cup kit was launched in April and that her shirt would not be available.

The Man United keeper raised the issue with Nike and even offered to fund the production herself but was told this would not be possible.

The England goalie, whose roaring 'f*** off' after she saved Jennifer Hermoso's penalty became a standout moment from the women's World Cup Final, slammed Nike's 'hugely hurtful' decision not to stock replicas of her shirt for fans to buy.

Nike sold replica goalkeeper kits for all four of the men's sides