Police Seize £18m Fake Football Kits During World Cup

More Than £18m in Fake Football Kits Seized During FIFA Tournaments

The UK's Fire Service has warned of safety risks posed by counterfeit football kit during the World Cup. Over 220,000 pieces of fake merchandise were recovered by authorities as part of Operation Bloxwich.

‘Fake kits are much more flammable and dangerous than genuine articles,’ says Dave Jackson from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. A raid in Birmingham uncovered 1,618 replica shirts including those for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

The low price of fake kits (£12 online), compared to official Premier League strips (£85) has boosted their sales. But this comes at a high cost for consumers and the environment.

Counterfeit football kits are not subject to health and safety regulations or EU standards, says Kate Caffrey of the Intellectual Property Office. They can be harmful, particularly for children's skin, when worn.