If you watched the Milan Derby this weekend or any Serie A game for that matter, you must’ve noticed something unusual. Every Player, Referee, and manager had a red streak painted across their face.
Now, if you are wondering why that might then you are at the right place. That red mark is part of the “Un Rosso alla Violenza,” translated as “A Red Card to Violence,” and its objective is to raise awareness against violence against women.
What is Serie A’s red face paint campaign?
“Un Rosso alla Violenza” is an annual campaign that Serie A has been running for nine seasons. It was launched by Lega Serie A in collaboration with Italy’s Department for Equal Opportunities. Its goal is to use football’s massive platform to shine a light on a problem that still plagues millions of women across the country: physical and psychological abuse.
Every year during November, players wear a red line of makeup on their faces to take their stand against gender-based violence. Serie A aligns this campaign with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which falls on November 25.
The statistics behind this campaign are heartbreaking. According to Lega Serie A, around 7 million women in Italy, nearly one in three, have experienced some form of harassment or violence in their lifetime.
In 2024, 111 women were murdered in Italy, and 96 of them were killed by family members or loved ones. In just the first nine months of 2025, that number already reached 73 women, with 60 of them losing their lives to domestic violence.
These numbers show that the campaign isn’t just a PR stunt; it is a necessary reminder.
A Red card in football for the elimination of the player from the pitch; similarly, the Red paint on the face is a Red card shown to gender-based violence.
