I am getting ready to backpack through Europe in a couple of weeks and I am trying to decide if bringing a couple of my soccer Jerseys will cause me more harm than good. I am not worried about a national team jersey, but what I am worried about is wearing something like a Chelsea jersey and getting more than just heckled for it. I am a Yankees fan and go at it with Red Sox fans quite often, but rarely do things ever get physical. A couple of people have told me to be careful about wearing the jerseys over there and I just wanted to know if their warnings had merit.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Have your friends actually been bothered for wearing a foreign jersey, or are they just giving you grief? Have they even been to Europe? Soccer jerseys are popular among European kids. Don't worry about it.
Posted by
OP
Tampa, FL, U.S.
7 posts
I think I've seen Eurotrip one too many times and have fears of getting chased down the street or my ass kicked in a bar, lol.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Let me repeat one of my European travel mantras- wear what you want. The chances that you would run into a group of hooligans who would take violent offense to your clothing are infinitely low.
Although Europeans don't wear sports-related attire nearly as casually as Americans, it's still common enough that nobody will raise an eyebrow.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
695 posts
Nick, my husband has a few soccer jerseys, he wore all of them, in different countries and never had a problem..
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
I wouldn't wear a USA national team jersey, unless you were going to an actual match. I have traveled to Switzerland, Germany, Holland, and England for matches involving the US, and on all of those occasions at least one local would make a nasty comment to me regarding US foreign policy when I wore the jersey going to or from the matches. In regards to club teams, IMO you need to be careful where and when you wear these jerseys. For example,I wouldn't wear an Arsenal jersey in Manchester, an AC Milan Jersey in Turin or a Barcelona jersey in Madrid.... that's asking for trouble.
It would also be asking for trouble to wear a Dallas Cowboys jersey in Manhattan;)
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Football jerseys are totally OK in Europe (only Americans call it soccer). I just wouldn't exactly wear a Real Madrid one in Barcelona or a Schalke one in Dortmund vv. Wearing a Chelsea jersey anywhere outside of England would probably make people think you're one of those always-drunk and vandalizing British tourists. Wearing a Chelsea one in Germany is OK as our national team captain Michael Ballack plays there. In most parts of Europe football teams and jerseys are almost political issues. So wearing a white hanes or regular polo shirt certainly would be more neutral ;-)
Posted by
Puyallup, WA, USA
881 posts
If there is a game scheduled for the city your in's team - just don't wear the other team's shirt. Trust me. =\ lol
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8040 posts
I would echo Chris's point, there should be no problem wearing a jersey, except maybe if that team is playing the home team that day...but then it may lead to some interesting encounters with the locals.
Posted by
Lake Forest Park, WA, USA
365 posts
Nick, I think a nice fresh "These Colors Don't Run" shirt will provide the required amount of "going at it" you desire. Soccer shirts are for pikers. You need to represent, buddy.