More than 220,000 fake football shirts seized by police in major crackdown

Police in London seized more than 220,000 counterfeit football shirts and kits worth over £18 million during a crackdown intensified around the World Cup. City of London Police said the removals from sale began in January 2026 as part of an operation led by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu). The genuine retail value was estimated at £18.5 million. Six people were arrested, four by Pipcu and two by other forces. Authorities targeted online marketplaces, live-shopping apps and street stalls, noting offenders increasingly use tech platforms. Police also warned counterfeits can be produced in unsafe conditions and that profits can fund organized crime, while depriving rights holders and legitimate businesses of revenue.