Fake kits worth £18m seized by police during World Cup

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that UK police seized counterfeit football shirts and other merchandise valued at more than £18m during the World Cup period, amid warnings that fake kits may pose safety risks. The report, published 21 July 2026, said the tournament drove increased demand for imitation strips, including cheaper copies of shirts linked to high-profile players.

According to the BBC, more than 220,000 items were recovered by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit under Operation Bloxwich, a UK enforcement operation focused on counterfeit goods. One action at a Birmingham warehouse led to the seizure of 1,618 fake strips, including replicas associated with players such as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

The safety concern highlighted in the report centres on flammability and regulation. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service compared counterfeit shirts with genuine kit and found the fake items caught or melted much more readily during testing. City of London Police and the Intellectual Property Office also warned that counterfeit clothing is not subject to the same health and safety checks as official products, and may contain unsafe dyes or materials.

The BBC noted that price is a major factor behind demand: some fake shirts were found online for about £12, while official Premier League replica shirts can start at £85. The issue matters beyond trademark enforcement because authorities say counterfeit supply chains can involve criminal networks, while buyers may be unaware of the potential safety and consumer-protection risks attached to unregulated products.