How to tell if a football shirt is authentic

If you resell football shirts, knowing how to tell an authentic one from a fake protects you and your buyers. Second-hand platforms remove listings for counterfeits, and a buyer who feels misled leaves a bad review. These are the checks we do at our warehouse.

1. The inner label and product code

Shirts from the big brands have an inner label with the size, the fabric composition and, in many eras, a product code. Search for that code online: on an authentic shirt it usually leads to the same model and season. If the code doesn't exist or belongs to a different item, be careful.

2. The badge and logos

Look at how the club badge and brand logo are made. Compare with photos of the authentic shirt from that season: shape, colours, size and position should match. Uneven edges, dull colours or missing details are warning signs.

3. The sponsor

The shirt sponsor must match that season. Check the finish too: on an authentic shirt the print or vinyl is well aligned and has an even finish.

4. Stitching and fabric

Check the seams on the collar, sleeves and sides. On an authentic shirt they are straight and clean. The fabric should also match the era: shirts from the 80s and 90s have different fabrics and cuts from modern ones.

5. Consistency with the era

A 90s shirt should have 90s labels, logos and sponsors. If an item mixes details from different eras, look into it before you buy or sell it.

Replicas and grade B

Not everything that isn't authentic is a problem. Unbranded replicas must always be listed as replicas, never as originals. And an authentic grade B shirt with a flaw is still authentic: you just need to say so in the listing.

In our bundles, every product page states whether the shirts are authentic or unbranded replicas. See our wholesale football shirts collection.