On Mother's Day weekend, for the first time in Italian football, the players of AC Milan's First Teams will wear their mothers’ surnames on their jerseys.
Milan, May 10, 2024 – On Mother's Day weekend, for the first time in Italian football, AC Milan players will take to the field wearing their mothers’ surnames instead of their usual names, aiming to bring attention to personal identity rights for every individual. On 27 April 2022, the Constitutional Court deemed discriminatory the law imposing automatic attribution of the paternal surname. Since 1 June of that year, according to Italian law, both parents must have the right to choose their children's surnames, as a fundamental element of their personal identity.
The special jerseys featuring maternal surnames will be worn by the men's First Team on Saturday, May 11, during the home match against Cagliari, who enthusiastically joined the initiative along with five other Serie A clubs. As with every game, the jerseys will then be auctioned on MatchWornShirt, with part of the proceeds being donated to Fondazione Milan – on this occasion, the donation will support the “A Goal to Dream” project, promoting female empowerment through sport in Pakistan. The women's First Team will then sport maternal surnames on Sunday, 12 May, when they face Napoli away.
During the game at San Siro on Saturday, the maternal surnames will be announced alongside the paternal surnames when the line-ups are announced, both by the stadium announcer and on the big screens. Additionally, among the children accompanying the AC Milan players onto the field at the start of the game, the Club will also welcome some young beneficiaries of the “Corner Mom-Child” project promoted by the La Rotonda association, dedicated to supporting mothers with children aged 0 to 2 years. A delegation from this project will be present in the stadium stands to watch the match.
“Playing with our mothers' names on our jerseys is a special way to honor the incredible women who have shaped and supported us throughout our lives. It's a meaningful gesture that highlights the importance of family and the strong bonds that drive us both on and off the pitch. I'm proud to represent my mom in this unique and heartfelt way alongside my teammates at AC Milan.”
- Christian Pulisic
This initiative, created in collaboration with Serviceplan Italia and promoted by Lega Serie A, aligns with AC Milan's commitment to promoting equity, diversity & inclusion values and contributing to positive change within and beyond the world of football.