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World Cup 'fake jersey' rush sparks global fight against counterfeits

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Authorities in Canada, Argentina, Hong Kong, and the UK have seized large quantities of counterfeit soccer merchandise ahead of the North American World Cup.
  • The seizures include thousands of fake jerseys, trophies, and other items bearing logos of major brands and FIFA, with significant value confiscated.
  • The crackdown targets counterfeit goods sold to consumers who find official merchandise too expensive, a problem that escalates during major sporting events like the World Cup.

As the North American World Cup approaches, a global crackdown on counterfeit soccer merchandise is intensifying, with authorities in several countries seizing vast amounts of fake goods. This 'war on fakes' targets opportunistic sellers capitalizing on the event's popularity.

In Canada, Toronto police confiscated over $3.5 million CAD (approximately $2.5 million USD) worth of counterfeit items from a warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario. The haul included more than 16,000 fake jerseys emblazoned with logos from FIFA, Nike, Adidas, and Puma, along with two replica World Cup trophies. Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with supplying these fake goods to retailers.

Argentina is also grappling with a surge in fake jerseys, reportedly selling briskly due to the high cost of official merchandise, which can range from $170 to $200 USD. Counterfeit versions are available for around $40 USD. The Argentine sports industry estimates that over 70% of team jerseys sold are fakes.

Similar raids have occurred internationally. Hong Kong customs seized over 10,000 counterfeit jerseys in April, destined for North America. In the UK, police confiscated over 4,400 fake jerseys from a large outdoor market in the Midlands the same month. These incidents echo past crackdowns during previous World Cups, such as the 2018 Russia tournament and the 2014 Brazil event, where numerous counterfeit manufacturers were exposed.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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