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Women’s football fans have been left dismayed and disgusted after finding an online auction site where Roma matchworn shorts were selling for more than the shirts.
Signed kits for Manuela Giugliano, Valentina Giacinti, Alayah Pilgrim and Emilie Haavi were posted on MatchWornKits and fans noticed the huge difference in winning bids for the top and bottom halves of the strip.
The reaction on Twitter has been a mix of alarm and disgust. One fan noted, “It’s unsettling to see shorts going for double the price of a signed shirt. We know why this is happening, and it’s not about the love of the game.” Another user echoed the sentiment: “We fought for decades to have kits that fit properly so women could be seen as athletes. Now, that same gear is being sexualised by ‘collectors’ in the auction room.”
Historically, female players were forced into “unisex” (essentially men’s) gear. These kits featured oversized, heavy shirts and shorts that were comically long, often reaching the knees of the athletes. Today, the bespoke tailoring represents the respect the athletes have earned.
However, the conversation has shifted from fit to sexualisation. On auction sites, a disturbing pattern has emerged: match-worn shorts from female players are frequently attracting higher bids—and more aggressive bidding wars—than the traditional match-worn shirts.
While match-worn shirts have long been the holy grail for fans, the disproportionate interest in shorts has led to calls for clubs and auction platforms to better regulate sales.
As the game continues to grow, the community is demanding that the sanctity of the players’ kits be protected, ensuring that the “fit” of the game remains focused on performance, not exploitation.
