When Milan line up at San Siro on Friday night to face Bologna in Serie A, supporters would possibly do a double-take. The names on the gamers’ shirts—acquainted faces like Christian Pulisic, Santiago Gimenez, and Joao Felix—gained’t be what followers count on. In a curious twist, Milan’s gamers will take the pitch with out their normal surnames. However what at first looks as if a cryptic riddle is, in actual fact, a deeply significant gesture rooted in celebration, consciousness, and custom.
This weekend’s encounter is the primary of two duels in 5 days between Milan and Bologna. Whereas the latter continues its struggle for a Champions League place, the Rossoneri are sharpening their concentrate on subsequent week’s Coppa Italia closing in Rome. In that mild, this match serves as a prelude—a check of rhythm and readiness. But, the principle speaking level forward of kickoff has little to do with ways or workforce choice.
Milan boss Sergio Conceicao skipped the pre-match press convention, including to the sense of thriller. Whispers about potential squad rotations dominated the headlines, however what actually caught followers’ consideration was the absence of gamers’ surnames on the official lineup.
The explanation why Milan stars won’t be carrying their final names on the jerseys
The explanation behind the weird jerseys is now clear: Milan is as soon as once more honoring Mom’s Day by having their first-team gamers put on their moms’ maiden names on their kits, a practice they first launched final season. The tribute isn’t only a symbolic gesture—it’s half of a bigger social marketing campaign powered by Fondazione Milan.
“Over the course of the weekend, gamers from the lads’s first workforce will take the sector carrying their moms’ maiden names on the backs of their shirts,” reads an official assertion from the San Siro outfit. “The gamers’ maternal surnames will function in Milan’s official line-up announcement, displayed on San Siro’s big screens and skim aloud by the announcer.”
Past the matchday kits, the tribute consists of Mom’s Day-themed graphics throughout the stadium, with visuals curated from submissions by gamers, membership legends, and followers. These messages goal to rejoice maternal affect, not solely within the participant’s private journeys but in addition as a nod to broader societal contributions.
Greater than gesture and custom
The initiative goes even additional. Fondazione Milan will assist round 70 teenage moms by a fundraising marketing campaign linked to the occasion. The hassle is in collaboration with the Spazio Indifesa Hub, a middle within the Gallaratese district of Milan, which provides parenting assist providers. The hub, opened in 2021 by Terre des Hommes with backing from the inspiration, performs an important position in supporting weak younger moms.
There’s one other highly effective layer to this initiative. By showcasing maternal surnames, the Crimson and Blacks are serving to elevate consciousness about Italy’s Constitutional Court docket ruling no. 131 of 2022, which struck down the automated project of solely the daddy’s surname to newborns. The choice gave Italian dad and mom equal rights to decide on their baby’s surname, a milestone in gender equality. Regardless of the ruling, public understanding of the change has remained restricted. Milan’s platform provides an opportunity to vary that, utilizing soccer’s huge viewers to spark dialog.
Final 12 months, Milan debuted this initiative with a 5-1 win over Cagliari, and it was immediately embraced as a daring, progressive assertion. That custom continues, not solely as a touching tribute however as a rallying cry for consciousness, inclusion, and assist for ladies and younger moms throughout Italy.
So when followers see Gimenez, Felix, or Pulisic’s jerseys lacking their normal surnames, they are going to now perceive that it’s removed from a mistake. It’s a reminder that behind each participant is a narrative—and sometimes, a mom—price celebrating.
