Manchester City Women To Stop Wearing White Shorts Over Period Concerns

Manchester City Women have become the highest profile English soccer side to move away from wearing white shorts during games next season as female soccer players become more vocal about being uncomfortable wearing them during menstruation.

Earlier this season, fourth-tier Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion Women both announced their women’s teams would stop wearing white shorts but the move by the former Barclays FA Women’s Super League champions and current Continental Cup holders, Manchester City who feature a plethora of the game’s biggest international stars is set to send a signal to women’s teams around the world.

In a statement from their kit manufacturers Puma released today, the German sportswear firm said, “Puma and Manchester City take pride in working closely with our players to support them and create the best possible environment for them to feel comfortable and perform at their highest level.”

“As a result of player feedback and the underlying topic of women wanting to move away from wearing white shorts while on their periods, we have decided to implement changes to the products we offer to our female players.”

“Starting from the 2023/24 season, we will not be providing white shorts to our female athletes. We will always provide an alternative for our home, away and third kits to solve the issue highlighted by women across all sports.”

During the summer, England striker Beth Mead voiced her concerns about wearing white shorts during the UEFA Women’s Euro revealing the players had been in discussions with kit manufacturers Nike. She said “it’s very nice to have an all-white kit but sometimes it’s not practical when it’s the time of the month. We have discussed it as a team and we have fed that back to Nike. Hopefully they’re going to change that.”

Nike insisted that “we absolutely hear and understand the concerns of our athletes that wearing light colored apparel while having their period can be a real barrier to sport. We are deeply engaged with our athletes in the process of designing solutions to meet their needs, while also consulting the clubs, federations and sporting associations that set uniform standards and colors.”

Ultimately, no change was made and the Lionesses wore white shorts in all seven games they played in winning the tournament. However a spokesperson for the English Football Association said “we recognise the importance and want our players to feel our full support on this matter. Any feedback made by them will be taken into consideration for future designs.”

A study of 4000 teenage girls by Women in Sport earlier this year revealed that a remarkable 70% admitted they would avoid sport when menstruating. Speaking to me in June, Crystal Palace midfielder Leigh Nicol explained her concerns about wearing white shorts during her period. “Physically, alongside you being tired, there’s a worry that you might leak. That’s always at the back of your head. Especially if you wear shorts that can obviously show if you’re leaking.”

“For me personally, I find it very embarrassing, I do get worried. Subconsciously, I’m always thinking about it on game day, with the social media and the coverage we’re now getting. It’s something you’re always thinking about, having to make those changes quite frequently. The physio’s always got a spare pair of shorts in the bag just in case it happens. That’s maybe perhaps the things you don’t see.”

Since the men’s club was founded in the 1880s, Manchester City have traditionally worn white shorts alongside their famous sky blue shirts. In four recent seasons, including the last one, the team has alternated to wearing matching sky blue shorts, something they still do when their is a color clash with the opposition team. It is expected the women’s team at least will revert to an all-blue kit from next season.