Subbuteo sparks frustration as first all-female football set not available to buy

‘What’s the point of this existing if not on sale?’

The limited edition Subbuteo all-female football set will feature the Arsenal and Chelsea teams (Subbuteo)

Many football fans have been left feeling immensely disappointed after Subbuteo announced the exciting launch of an all-female football set, only to discover that the set isn’t available to purchase.

Yesterday, the Football Association (FA) and Subbuteo revealed the world’s first all-female set to celebrate the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final, which will be taking place tomorrow at Wembley between Arsenal and Chelsea.

The set was created to celebrate the women’s game, as explained by the FA’s head of marketing and commercial for women’s football Marzena Bogdanowicz.

“This new all-female Subbuteo set is a reflection of the rapid growth that women’s football is seeing in the UK right now,” she said.

She explained that the FA aspires to achieve “greater equality” throughout the world of football, “striving to transform the future of the women’s game on and off the pitch.”

However, the claim that the set champions “gender equality” has been questioned over the fact that those wishing to buy it have been unable to.

The set is limited edition and will reportedly be available to win on social media in the next few months.

While the all-female Subbuteo set was initially praised, many football fans are frustrated that it's not available to purchase (Subbuteo)

While the announcement of the product was initially praised, football fans have expressed their frustration over their inability to obtain it.

One individual on Twitter described the set as mere “tokenism”, while another discussed the importance of promoting inclusivity in football.

“What’s the point of this existing if not on sale?” they wrote.

“Girls and women play football too and it would be great to see that reflected in this set being made widely available along with a mixed set which is the happy reality of many children’s football teams.”

One woman reminisced about her childhood and how incredible it would have been to have been able to play with a set of female players.

“As the only girl who was ‘allowed’ to play football with the boys on our street as a kid, and spending HOURS playing Subbuteo whenever we were rained off - having a version with women’s teams would’ve been HUGE," she said.

James Walker, senior vice president at toy company Hasbro, stated that he believes that the set is “recognition of the vital role that women’s football has in our culture,” while also noting that the product is a “special edition of Subbuteo”.

When contacted for comment, the FA provided The Independent with a statement from Bogdanowicz that emphasised that fans will be able to acquire the sets on social media and if in attendance at the final tomorrow.

"The limited edition sets have been specifically designed to celebrate the SSE Women's FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea Ladies and there are ongoing talks with Hasbro around providing broader recognition of the women's game in the next 12 months," she said.