Were Braga's Boots Stolen Before Marseille Match?
Nov 10, 2015, by Chris
- Missing Boots: Braga's boots were reported missing from the dressing room after training at Stade Velodrome, with no sign of forced entry.
- Marseille's Assistance: Marseille offered to help by providing replacement boots and chartering a plane to bring more from Portugal.
- Boots Found: The missing boots were eventually found in Braga's hotel, not at the stadium, resolving the issue before the match.
We know it's not "breaking news" anymore, but we still think it's appropriate to clear up the ridiculous story of Braga's missing boots ahead of last week's UEFA Europa League clash against Olympique Marseille.
Marseille won Thursday's game 1-0 against Braga to close the gap to the previously unbeaten squad to three points, but it was the boot story that caught the attention of the media worldwide. So let's reflect the story of Braga's allegedely stolen cleats.
Retrospective Analysis - Braga's Missing Boots
Braga's Boots got missing ahead of last week's Europa League clash.
According to the Portuguese side, the boots were taken from the dressing room after training at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday. Strangely enough, there was no sign of a break-in according to Braga's president Antonio Salvador Rodrigues.
"I find that incredible," 20 Minutes quoted him as saying. "No door was forced open so how did the boots go missing?"
To help Braga and to allow the game to take place, Marseille offered to charter a plane to Portugal so that more of the player's footwear could be brought to France. In the end, Marseille brought Braga 46 standard pairs of boots.
We all know how important their own boots are for players, and not only but also therefore Braga's coach Fonseca told L'Equipe: "I thought I'd seen everything in football but that disrupted our preparation. It's astonishing because there are cameras and security guards to guarantee security."
Braga even asked for the match to be postponed and wanted to make a complaint to UEFA. However, in the end police and the Marseille security found the missing boots - in Braga's hotel.
Although Braga's boot story ultimately had a happy ending, it was not a great trip to France for the Portuguese side as they lost their first match of the 2015-16 Europa League campaign. And what exactly happened to Braga's boots that night will probably remain a mystery.
Alianza Lima 2026 Third Kit Released - Traditional Purple 'Blanquimorada'
Peruvian giants Club Alianza Lima and Nike have officially unveiled the club's new 2026 third jersey. Continuing a revered tradition spanning over 55 years, the kit embraces the traditional purple palette in honor of the Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles), which the team will wear during the upcoming October festivities.
The Nike Alianza Lima 2026 third shirt features a deep purple base paired with lighter lilac accents on the round collar, shoulder panels, and sleeve cuffs. Bright gold detailing highlights both the Nike Swoosh and the club crest, complemented by subtle pink accents along the side panels and an inner collar inscription celebrating the club's identity.
The new purple kit will make its official on-pitch debut on October 11, 2026, when Alianza Lima travel to face Cusco FC in Liga 1 action. It is already available for purchase via Nike Peru and Marathon Sports in men's, women's, and children's versions.
AS Roma 26-27 Lifestyle Shirt Revealed - 1994 Design Inspired
The new Adidas AS Roma 1994 retro jacket have been unveiled via the brand's online store. The design is inspired by the 1994 World Cup template, famously worn by Germany, which is given to various Adidas teams.
As for Giallorossi, the jacket uses the club's famous red and yellow colorway, combined with darker diamond pattern up top. It is expected to be worn by the players before games or during walkouts.
What do you think of the new Adidas AS Roma 1994 2026 jacket? Let us know in the comments.
FC Annecy 26-27 Away Kit Released
Ligue 2 outfit FC Annecy and technical sponsor Adidas have officially launched the club's new away jersey for the 26-27 season. Completing the team's set following the earlier arrivals of their home and third shirts, the new alternate look delivers a timeless and elegant aesthetic.
The Adidas FC Annecy 26-27 away shirt is built around a crisp white base, highlighted by a sharp red polo collar. Deep red detailing continues onto the shoulders with the brand's signature three stripes, as well as the Adidas logo on the chest and Annecy's stylized gothic 'A' crest. The club's various sponsor logos, headlined by shipping company MSC alongside regional partners E.Leclerc Annecy, Teamwork, and Haute-Savoie le Département, are also rendered in matching red tones.
The new strip is completed with white shorts and socks, and is set to be worn across their 26-27 Ligue 2 campaign.
FC Südtirol 26-27 Third Kit Released
Italian Serie B club FC Südtirol and technical sponsor Erreà have officially unveiled the new third kit for the 2026-27 campaign. Completing the club's matchday wardrobe alongside the previously launched home and away strips, the design draws strong inspiration from the natural alpine scenery and vineyard landscapes of the South Tyrol region.
The Erreà FC Südtirol 26-27 third jersey arrives in an elegant cream and off-white base complemented by deep forest green accents. A faint, tonal organic pattern runs across the fabric, while the front features the "Südtirol" wordmark alongside the iconic mountain silhouette in dark green, placed directly above main sponsor Alperia. Both the Erreà emblem and the diamond-shaped FCS crest are rendered in a clean monochrome green style.
Contrasting green detailing finishes the rear collar, sleeve cuffs, and side flanks of the shirt. The uniform is completed by matching off-white shorts and socks, both accented with forest green trim and club lettering. The FC Südtirol 26-27 third kit is available through the club's official store.
Erreà San Marino Women's 2026 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Erreà and the San Marino Football Federation (FSGC) have officially revealed the first bespoke home and away kits for the newly established San Marino women's senior national football team. Founded earlier this year under the guidance of head coach Giulia Domenichetti, the squad will debut the new uniforms in their first official international friendly matches against Liechtenstein and Gibraltar.
Both jerseys take direct inspiration from San Marino's most famous national symbols, the Three Towers of Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale. The home shirt is predominantly white with delicate celeste blue and dark blue accents on the polo-style V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs. Subtly woven into the fabric is an embossed tone-on-tone pattern representing the historic towers, paired with matching white shorts and socks.
The away jersey flips the color scheme into a deep navy blue, highlighted by vertical repeating silhouettes of the Three Towers across the front. White side panels and light blue trim on the collar add sharp contrast, accompanied by matching navy shorts and socks. Both kits are produced using Erreà's lightweight Future fabric as part of the UEFA Kit Assistance Scheme, and feature custom "FSGC 1931" tape inside the back collar.
Champions League 'Debut' Sleeve Patches Make On-Pitch Debut
The brand-new UEFA Champions League 'Debut' sleeve patch made its official on-pitch appearance during Matchday 1 of the 26-27 season. Introduced through a collaboration between UEFA, UC3, and Topps (Fanatics Collectibles), the initiative is designed to highlight and celebrate players making their first-ever career appearance in Europe's premier club competition.
The special badge adds a curved blue emblem featuring the word 'DEBUT' integrated into the bottom of the iconic Champions League Starball sleeve badge, including the club badge of honour editions. The patch is strictly awarded for active on-pitch participation, meaning only starting players and substituted debutants wear it. Unused substitutes on the bench do not qualify until they physically step onto the pitch, and a player can only wear the debut badge once in their entire career.
The badge also bridges the gap between matchday kit and football memorabilia. Following the match, the blue 'DEBUT' element is removed from the player's match-worn jersey, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, and delivered to Topps. It will then be permanently embedded into a unique 1-of-1 autographed trading card for upcoming Topps collections, while the underlying badge remains visible on the shirt so the player can retain their jersey as a personal memento.