- Police seized counterfeit football shirts and kits valued at over £18 million, removing more than 220,000 fake items from sale since January 2026 during a nationwide crackdown.
- The operation, led by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu) and intensified around the World Cup, resulted in six arrests and targeted online marketplaces, apps, and market stalls.
- Authorities warned that counterfeit shirts are often produced in unsafe conditions, may contain harmful materials, and their sales provide a key revenue stream for organised crime groups.
- Separately, football fans face paying up to £90 for replica shirts, with eight Premier League clubs increasing prices, raising concerns that loyal supporters are being priced out.
- Consumer experts criticised the price hikes as “blatant greed,” while the Football Association advised fans to avoid counterfeit products due to quality issues and their negative impact on funding the national game.
IN FULL
