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

City of London Police say they seized more than 220,000 counterfeit football shirts and kits in a nationwide crackdown intensified around the World Cup. The items, removed from sale since January 2026, are valued at over £18 million at retail, with genuine value estimated at £18.5 million. The operation, led by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu), resulted in six arrests—four by Pipcu and two by other forces. Investigators targeted online marketplaces, live shopping apps, and market stalls, reflecting how sellers increasingly use tech platforms. Police also warned fake shirts can be made in unsafe conditions and fuel organised crime.