Köln to Wear Special "Stop War" Kit Logos Against Hoffenheim
Mar 5, 2022, by Chris
German 1. Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln will wear special shirt sponsors in the Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim tomorrow.
1.FC Köln STOP WAR Special-Edition Shirt
Instead of the REWE logo on the front, the FC pros will wear "STOP WAR" on their chests, and the DEVK sleeve logo will be replaced by the PEACE symbol. In this way, both the FC and its partners want to set another visible sign of solidarity with the people in Ukraine, in addition to supporting numerous aid organizations in the war region and in Cologne.
"After participating in the peace demonstration on Rose Monday, the FC family will send another clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the course of the home game on Sunday, among other things, with the special jersey, to end this criminal war immediately," explains FC Managing Director Philipp Türoff.
"The corner flags will have the colors of Ukraine, the pylons of the RheinEnergieSTADION will shine in blue-yellow with the support of Kölner Sportstätten GmbH, Jonas Hector will wear a captain's armband with the PEACE symbol, there will be a minute's silence and we will call for donations to the FC Foundation for the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz e.V. on boards. We appeal to all FC fans to support our commitment to the people in Ukraine also with a very personal contribution."
Dr. Sven Spork, Divisional Director of Corporate Affairs at REWE Group, explains, "The appeal to end this cruel war immediately cannot be loud enough. That is why it also belongs on the chest of the FC. At REWE, we also associate this with the urgent request to help the people in Ukraine and the refugees now as quickly and comprehensively as possible."
Hans-Joachim Nagel, Chief Representative of DEVK, says: "We are very moved by the current images from Ukraine. We are committed to helping all those who have been affected by this war and are suffering as a result. Therefore, together with FC and REWE, we set a sign for peaceful coexistence."
- FC Köln will auction a part of the special jerseys for the benefit of Ukraine.
Should Köln sell and donate the profits of these kits? Comment below.
Grimsby Town 26-27 Third Kit Released
Grimsby Town and technical partner Lotto have officially revealed the club's new 26-27 third kit. Following the previous releases of their home and away strips, the new design draws inspiration from the earliest days of the Mariners playing at Blundell Park, combining a rich brown base with light blue and white accents.
The Grimsby Town 26-27 third jersey is predominantly brown, featuring a broad white chest band bordered by a thin sky blue line. The kit showcases an all-over sublimated diamond pattern across the body, with matching white and sky blue trim along the collar and sleeve cuffs. A monochrome white club crest sits on the chest, while a fisherman illustration is printed on the upper back as a sign-off detail.
Matching brown shorts and socks complete the full uniform for the Mariners. The new Lotto Grimsby Town 26-27 third strip will be available to purchase in-store from Friday, August 7, with online sales opening on Monday, August 10.
US Thionville Lusitanos 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
French club US Thionville Lusitanos has officially unveiled its new home and away kits for the 26-27 season, made in collaboration with Kappa. The new collection draws direct inspiration from the history, architecture, and soul of the city of Thionville. The reveal shoot took place at the historic Tour aux Puces, emphasizing the deep connection between the club and its local heritage.
The 26-27 home kit features a sky blue base with white trim along the collar and sleeve cuffs, complemented by custom graphic artwork along the lower hem depicting local landmarks and symbols. The away shirt shares the same design blueprint, opting for a clean light grey base paired with white accents and tonal architectural patterns near the bottom. Both shirts feature crewneck collars and host a range of local club sponsors.
The new Kappa US Thionville Lusitanos 26-27 home and away jerseys will be available to purchase starting August 14, 2026.
Oliver Baumann Slams FIFA Over World Cup Jersey Badge
Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has publicly spoken out against FIFA's commercialization, pointing to a controversial practice involving temporary kit badges at the 2026 World Cup. In a recent interview with BILD, the goalkeeper criticized what German media have dubbed "Trikot Gate," shedding light on how players' match jerseys were handled for profit behind the scenes.
According to Baumann, FIFA applied special commemorative patches to player shirts before matches, labeling players with titles like "Legacy" or "Debutant." However, immediately after matches, staff entered the dressing room to peel those badges off the jerseys. Frustrated by the process, Baumann stated that players just wanted to keep their authentic kits intact rather than having them stripped.
Baumann did not play a match in the 2026 World Cup. Those badges are removed from the kits to be later part of trading cards, as part of a deal with Topps. However, it remains to be seen if badges of players who finally did not make a debut will be made into cards, or if it was just removed because of the streamlined process.
The goalkeeper appealed to governing bodies to prioritize the sport itself over endless commercial initiatives. Baumann warned that excessive commercialization, from stripped kit patches to unnecessary breaks, threatens to alienate fans and players who care about the tradition and passion of football.
Mohamed Salah Takes Number 10 Shirt at Trabzonspor
Mohamed Salah has officially completed his move to Turkish side Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool. Following his arrival, the Egyptian superstar has been assigned the club's number 10 shirt for the 26-27 season. The Turkish club had initially prepared the number 11 jersey, the same squad number Salah wore during his iconic stint at Anfield, but the winger requested number 10 instead to match his shirt number with the Egypt national team.
To accommodate the request, Trabzonspor player Ernest Muçi, who previously held the number 10 jersey, agreed to give up the squad number out of respect for his new teammate. During his arrival flight to Turkey, Salah was seen wearing a presentation kit featuring number 61. The number 61 holds special cultural significance in Trabzon, representing the province's vehicle code and a tradition celebrated by supporters in the 61st minute of matches.
Salah has signed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor, and his official number 10 kit is now available as the club prepares for the upcoming season.
