Fan protest against Stuttgart kits - "All your jerseys shit on our identity"
| VfB Stuttgart fans prior to their match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. | Helge Prang/Getty Images |
Saturday afternoon's clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach was meant to be a day of celebration: 100 years of the Brustring, one of VfB Stuttgart's most defining symbols.
The club had organised a range of events in advance - a home match on the anniversary date, themed activities, and even a special edition kit.
However, the club's active fan scene, led by Commando Cannstatt, has since launched sharp criticism at the designs of the 2025/26 kits. In a blunt statement, they declared: “All your jerseys shit on our identity!" - a direct attack on VfB's marketing department and kit supplier Jako.
The Brustring, formally written into the club's statutes, is considered by supporters to be the heart of VfB Stuttgart's identity. As per a Commando Cannstatt statement, the symbol has been disrespected, distorted, or even erased in the new kits.
The home shirt, themed around Stuttgart's famous “Stäffele” stairways, already caused anger, but the away and third kits have sparked even stronger reactions.
“On two out of three jerseys, you need a magnifying glass to find the Brustring, and on the third, it's been torn apart graphically,” the group stated.
High hopes were pinned on the much-anticipated anniversary shirt. But here too, supporters feel let down. Instead of a clear commitment to the club crest and tradition, they suspect commercial interests took priority.
“The chance for an iconic kit was pitifully missed,” the statement reads."
Fans further accuse VfB's management of mocking criticism and deliberately using social media campaigns to divide the fanbase. Pointing to record sales as proof of quality is, in their view, a weak defence: “Arguing with sales figures as a monopolist is a flawed strategy,” they argue, adding: “A jersey of our club is one of the most tangible pieces of its identity and tradition.”
The statement closed with: “VfB's marketing and Jako have proven with this season's kits that they are willing to shit on our club's identity. We will oppose them and fight for it!”
