With summer soon approaching, it’s no secret that football fans love to rep their favourite shirts on holiday.

Even non-football fans are starting to appreciate the Jay Cartwright look when they’re abroad. However, choosing an outfit for lazy days by the pool, a trip to the beach or some sightseeing may require more thought than initially anticipated, depending on where you jet off to. Local rivalries aside, there are many shirts that shouldn’t be worn in several popular holiday destinations for a multitude of sociological reasons.

Here are 5 clubs’ shirts to avoid including in your holiday wardrobe:

1. Rangers x Rome

Frankly, a wearing a Rangers shirt anywhere in Italy will likely result in trouble. According to the World Population Review, Italy has a Catholic population of around 50 million – with the city of Rome engulfing the epicentre of Catholicism, the Vatican City. Rangers, a proudly protestant club, has a fan base that clash with the likes of the staunchly Catholic Roma and Lazio. The historic rivalry between Catholics and Protestants surpasses any footballing derby, with the Protestant Reformation in 1517 sparking centuries of discourse between the two Christian denominations.

In Italy, the footballing culture is strongly laced with politicisation and identity pride. Fans of Roma and Lazio use their clubs as bastions for their religious and ideological beliefs, with Rangers directly opposing a lot of what they stand for. Furthermore, Lazio’s ultras in particular are notorious for aggression and violence towards travelling fans, making the Stadio Olimpico and the city of Rome a hostile environment for visitors. Right now, Catholic pride throughout Rome is high following the recent election of Pope Leo XIV. Given that Rangers have nothing nice to say about the Pope, to put it lightly, wearing one of their shirts in Italy’s capital this summer would not be a wise move.

2. Galatasaray x South Cyprus

There are many factors which contribute towards the tension between Türkiye and Greece. The Greek War of Independence in 1821 saw the nation break away from Ottoman rule. Since then, territorial disputes over Aegean regions and airspace as well as the Greek-led Cypriot coup in 1974, have prompted conflict. A product of this conflict is a hostile border splitting Cyprus in two: Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Türkiye, and the Republic of Cyprus occupying the South of the island.

Nationalism is thoroughly present within each nation’s footballing culture, with Galatasaray arguably being the Super Lig club that champions Turkish pride the most – given their fans’ distinct history of violence and thuggish reputation. Really though, wearing any Turkish club’s shirt in the Republic of Cyprus’ popular holiday cities like Paphos, or especially Nicosia – given its proximity to the border, would likely land you in hot water (and that doesn’t necessarily mean the Mediterranean Sea). Vice versa, it would also be unwise to opt for an Olympiacos shirt into your holiday fit if you’re off to Istanbul.

3. Real Madrid x Girona/Bilbao

The ‘Real’ in Real Madrid is a prefix title that was given to the club, formerly known as Madrid FC, by King Alfonso XIII in 1920. Real Madrid has become a symbol of Spanish national pride due to their royal connections and their seismic footballing success. Under the Franco regime, Los Blancos were deployed to be a club that embodied the pride of Spain, as the dictator passed legislation to advantage its progression. This included banning Spanish clubs from being able to sign foreign players, so arrivals like the Argentinian Alfredo Di Stefano, or the Hungarian Fernec Puskás, were granted Spanish citizenship.

Real Madrid have essentially been put on a nationalistic pedestal within Spanish football, much to the disliking of areas like Catalonia, where a contested independence referendum in 2017 saw 95% of participants vote in favour of separation from Spain, or the Basque region. In a footballing context, the animosity towards Real Madrid from regions demanding independence has created rivalries with clubs like Athletic Bilbao and Girona FC. The populations within Spain’s autonomous regions would likely be offended if you were to go on holiday there in a Real Madrid or Spanish national team shirt.

4. Red Star Belgrade x Albania

In recent years, Albania has become a new European holiday destination. Tourists have discovered its beautiful beaches along the riviera, recognised its affordability and there is a strong sense of authenticity surrounding its history and culture given the nation’s freshness as somewhere to go for a vacation. As for its history though, Albania’s relationship with Serbia has seen produced mass tensions between the two countries. In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. This move was, and continues to be, strongly supported by Albania.

Albanians view Kosovo as an integral part of their broader ethnic and cultural sphere whereas Serbians consider it to be part of their historic mainland. Both nations encapsulate traditional Balkan pride following the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s, leading to disputes between their respective populations. Red Star Belgrade is Serbia’s biggest club, often featuring in major European competitions – with the club presenting itself as a spearhead of sporting Serbdom (Serbian nationalism). So if you’re heading to the Albanian Riviera for a bit of sunbathing, think twice about bringing your favourite Red Star strip.

5. St Pauli x Black Forest (Rural Germany)

Visiting the Black Forest, located in the South West of Germany, is a go-to area for tourists, offering beautiful and traditional scenery. However, many similar rural areas in Germany were where the far-right AfD party found electoral success this year, winning 20.8% of the vote – making them the second largest party in the Bundestag.

St Pauli, a Bundesliga club based in Hamburg, is a club that has become a hit amongst younger, left-wing football fans. The club has become a symbol of anti-fascism and alternative football culture, championing inclusivity. Their recent promotion to the German First Division in the 2023/24 season further put them on the map. There has been a distinct rise in fascism around Germany. Data does show that conventional holiday cities like Berlin and Munich continue to be a safer space, but rural parts of the country are beginning to see a resurgence in right-wing ideology.

If you fancy a German hiking holiday, it would be wise to opt for an SV Hamburg shirt instead of a St Pauli strip.