How to recognize counterfeit shirts
There are several ways to identify counterfeit shirts. The difference is often found in the material, the club badges, the brand badges (Adidas, Nike, etc.), and the finishing of details such as the stitching.
Material
Counterfeit football shirts are often made from cheaper material. The material often has a greater shine and is thinner/lighter than that of original football shirts. The shirt's color may also be lighter or darker than the original color.
Badges
Badges on counterfeit shirts are often poorly finished, and differences in, for example, shape and font do not match those of original shirts. The size of the details often varies.
As shown in the photo below, the star is not embroidered neatly, the font of ACM and 1899 is less bold, the lines in the center are darker, and the shape of the logo does not match.
When we look at the inside of this Argentina shirt from 2005, it is clear that many more loose threads have been left behind than on the original. Material has also been left between the wreath and the center of the badge. Furthermore, the stitching is much less detailed than on the original. The edges and letters are much thicker, and the white stitching on the letters is embroidered much more roughly. In addition, the colors do not match those of the original.
When comparing the Adidas logos, you can see that the letters are embroidered less neatly. The inner and outer edges of the A’s and D’s are not round. You can also see that the edges are embroidered much less precisely.
Stitching
The stitching on counterfeit shirts is often embroidered much more roughly than that on original shirts, as mentioned earlier. The difference can be seen again below. On the red shirt, the white stitching is neatly embroidered. On the white shirt, the stitching is much rougher and a thicker thread has been used.
