How to Spot a Real vs. Fake Football Shirt? 5 Golden Tips
At Mystery United, we spend our days sourcing and shipping original football shirts. And what we’re seeing more and more is this: the difference between real and fake is not always easy to spot at first glance. Some fake shirts look almost identical to the real thing, especially online.
Because we only sell authentic shirts, we know exactly what to look out for. That’s why we’re sharing 5 practical tips to help you spot a fake and avoid buying the wrong thing.
1. Check the price
Spot a shirt at a surprisingly low price? Then it’s probably too good to be true. Brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma are never cheap. If you see an “authentic” shirt from the current season being sold for around €15, chances are it’s a knock-off.
2. Pay attention to the details and finish
A real football shirt stands out because of its quality. Brands like Nike and Adidas put a lot of care into stitching and finish. Look closely at the seams. Are they straight? Is the shirt neatly finished? And most importantly, check the club crest. It should be sharp, symmetrical and cleanly printed or embroidered.
Fake shirts often have small flaws. A crooked logo, faded colours or messy stitching are common signs. Details like the collar or sleeve cuffs can also reveal that the shirt isn’t original. Genuine shirts have subtle, high-end finishing touches that are hard to copy.
3. Feel the fabric
Original football shirts are almost always made from polyester. They’re light, smooth, durable and wrinkle-free. If the shirt feels heavy, stiff or cheap, it’s probably not real. Also check the sponsor logos. They should be firmly attached and not peel off easily.
4. Check the label
Every authentic shirt has a label with a unique product code or SKU (Stock Keeping Unit). You can look this up online to see if it matches the right model and season. If the code is missing, incorrect or the label looks messy, you’re most likely dealing with a fake.
5. Buy from trusted sellers
Want to play it safe? Order directly from the club’s official website, trusted sports retailers or from us. We only sell 100% real football shirts.
On platforms like Facebook, Vinted or online marketplaces, fakes are unfortunately very common. Still planning to buy there? Always ask for a picture of the product code and be extra careful with suspiciously low prices.
Looking for a real shirt at a fair price?
Then check out our Mystery Boxes for an authentic Mystery Shirt, or find a genuine football shirt in our Exclusives.
Here’s a small selection of what we offer:
