As the saying goes, “Italians do it bella”! This goes for most things in life: food, fashion, family, and football too. When we think of Italian meals, images of steaming, gleaming bowls of pasta and fresh, fragrant bread come to mind. Italy is home to some of the world’s foremost fashion houses and designers, and even though France gives them a run for their money, Italian style reigns supreme. Italian families are world renowned for being adoring, involved, and often a little crazy, but it’s all done out of love; who can fault them? Last but certainly not least, Italy is famous for its love of football and for producing some of the greatest players to ever step onto the field. Last year, however, fashion and football collided when the Italian Serie A division banned all green kits on the outfield for the 2022/2023 season. If you’re keeping an eye on the World Cup odds like we are, you’ve no doubt noticed this interesting development. Join us as we take a look at why Serie A has made green the fashion no-go of the season.
Red, White, and…Green?
The Italian flag is made up of red, white, and green, so it’s natural to assume that a large number of Italian clubs and players would want to represent their love for their motherland in their kits. Well, Serie A says “not this season” in the name of clarity for viewers watching the matches on television in their homes. Since the grass on any football pitch should be a delicious, well-watered, bright green, it’s easy to understand how viewers who have spotty reception or who may have any kind of eye issues might find it challenging to follow a game if the pitch is the same color as the player’s kits! This ban on green kits has caused quite an uproar among fans who love their team’s kits just as they are, but also amongst some of the players themselves. Luckily, the ban doesn’t summarily outlaw ALL green in all kits: it applies to away kits, leaving home kits with green in them untouched. Clubs like Venezia and Sassuolo, currently high up in the rankings, are hit hard by this ruling as both have green in their respective emblems. Lazio’s beloved lime green away kit, made famous by their 2020/ 2021 season promos, has to give up the kit completely.
Goalies, those blessed players without whom a team would fall completely to pieces, are lucky enough to be exempt from the ruling as officials think that being in goal is contrast enough for any color kit, as long as it differentiates them from the outfield players and referees on the field.
Italian Kits Over the Years
We really do believe that when it comes to fashion, Italians know all the right tricks. The Serie A Italian team kits over the years have been some of the most easily recognizable and iconic in football history. Let’s check out a few of the best.
1899-1910
AC Milan’s very first kit was a far cry from the green that’s being banned in the current and upcoming seasons. A black and red stripe with a high. Buttoned up collar and a white pocket featuring a bright cross.
1929-1930
Inter Milan took all the negativity out of being black and blue when they debuted their royal blue and black broad vertical stripe kit. The conservative collar was replaced by a shallow V-neck, and the pocket design featured a very modern print.
1948-1949
Torino brought traditional Italian pride to their home kit with a round-necked ruby-red jersey. No pocket here, just the club crest sewn over the heart in red, white, and green.
1979-1980
AS Roma took the gaudy, bright, 70s cake with both their home and away kits for the 1979/ 1980 season. In true retro style (though current and probably quite hip at the time), their rounded V-neck jerseys are replete with the brightest possible oranges and yellows- red featuring prominently on the home kit and white on the away kit. AC Milan had a throwback year, with a kit featuring the red and black stripes. They dropped the buttons and the stark collar and opted for a soft collar and flexible fabric.
1990-2000
Fiorentina had a royal moment during their 1990-2000 season with a royal purple and white kit that prominently featured the Toyota logo as they were the team’s main sponsor.
2021-2022
Inter Milan’s skin-tight, body-hugging mint green and white away kit is one of our current favourites. Since the kit features so much white, we’re sure it’ll escape the purge of all things green in Italian football.
Wrap Up
Though change is coming in the current and following season for Italian football clubs, we’re sure they’ll all rise to the occasion with classic Italian sartorial elegance.
Photos by Unsplash
