Female football boots could be revolutionised after women's summit

Female football boots could be revolutionised after findings revealed 82 per cent of women players across Europe experienced regular discomfort.

The European Club Association hosted its first Women's Football Summit in London on Monday and revealed findings of 12 months of research around football boots.

Traditionally, all football boots for women and men are the same, based on a generic white male foot.

After speaking with 350 female club footballers across Europe and scanning their feet, research conducted for the ECA suggests girls and women should be offered two new boot designs.

Female feet are different from men, not only smaller in general, but with a higher arch and difference in heel shape.

Eighty-two per cent of the 350 players the ECA surveyed said they experienced some discomfort on a regular basis while wearing boots.

The research, led by Dr. Katrine Kryger from St. Mary's University, acknowledged that a football boot cannot prevent injury, such as the spate of ACL ruptures that have been seen in the women's game recently, but that comfort and choice should be a right for all female footballers