Mantova football club launches new kit without traditional red band

Mantova unveiled its first‑team home jersey for the 2026/27 season, a plain white shirt with red accents on the collar, sleeve cuffs and the Adidas striping, but without the iconic red transverse band that has featured on most recent kits. The launch, held at the club’s Canottieri venue, prompted a lively discussion among supporters.

Collector and historian Andrea Malavasi examined the club’s 115‑year archive and found the band was used in roughly 30 seasons – about 26 % of the club’s history – with a steady presence only from the late 1990s onward. He argued that claims of “betraying tradition” overstate the historical reality.

Club president Filippo Piccoli defended the design, saying it honors past glories while looking forward, and highlighted ongoing project goals such as expanding the squad, improving performances in Serie B and boosting season ticket sales, which are already up 10 % on the previous year.