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Topics: Football, Premier League, Football News
James Taylor
Football fans who wear counterfeit shirts have been issued with a significant warning by health experts concerned about the risks of fake sportswear.
With the rising cost of official football shirts, more supporters are now turning to cheaper fake jerseys sold on a range of websites.
Many of the counterfeits are difficult to distinguish from official club merchandise, but there is a huge price difference.
A genuine Manchester United shirt for this season costs £85, while a fake may cost just £15.
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Although there is a clear financial saving, it has now emerged that fans may be putting their health at risk by wearing fake jerseys.
The BBC reported that experts have raised concerns about the materials used in the manufacturing of fake jerseys, warning they may not meet safety standards.
Louise Baxter-Scott from Trading Standards said: "We just don't know what's in these kits, they could pose a health risk.
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"They are poorly made but look legitimate, and the pressure of Christmas, plus the increase in cost of living creates a greater consumer vulnerability and pushes people towards a cheaper alternative."
Those concerns were echoed by Chloe Long, deputy director general at the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, who warned that fake kits could even cause wearers to develop rashes.
She said: "Wearing that strip could cause irritation.
"It could even cause more significant problems, particularly if harmful toxins or dyes are used to manufacture those products."
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Long has also helped track the supply chains behind counterfeit football shirts, which often start in Chinese factories.
Asked whether there is evidence of harmful chemicals being used in fake kits, she said: "It's very difficult to know retrospectively what's been put into the product.
"But you can see in some instances that they could be harmful.
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"And they don't follow any regulations. They're not bound by the same legalities and regulations the genuine manufacturers are."
In the UK, it is not illegal to buy fake kits, but selling them is a criminal offence punishable by up to ten years in prison and an unlimited fine.
Just last year, it was reported that England fans could receive punishment for wearing fake jerseys at Euro 2024.
With random checks at major transport points and big events more common in Germany, that was seen to increase the likelihood of supporters being stopped.
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Clubs are also introducing their own measures.
In August 2024, Sheffield Wednesday issued a statement on their website warning home fans that they could be ejected from the stadium for wearing counterfeit shirts.
The club said that anyone wearing a fake shirt could be asked to leave, and confirmed that the official club store would not add numbers or letters to counterfeit kits.