Is your football shirt genuine or a fake? Knowing how to spot a fake football shirt is more important than ever. As demand for authentic kits has grown, so has the number of counterfeits — and some are made to look very convincing. In this guide, we show you exactly how to check a football shirt step by step, so you can spot the signs of a fake with confidence.
If you buy football shirts online, you've probably experienced the uncertainty — not knowing who to trust and worrying about overpaying for a fake. Recognizing an original shirt starts with knowing what to look for. We have authenticated hundreds of football shirts across all major brands, and created this guide to help you make confident decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Online marketplaces are full of football shirts, especially popular current-season kits from big clubs and national teams. Many counterfeits look almost identical at first glance, but a suspiciously low price is often the first red flag.
Product Codes & Style Numbers
Product codes are one of the most reliable ways to verify a football shirt's authenticity. Each brand uses its own system, but genuine shirts follow strict and consistent formats. Always search the code online and compare it with a verified original from the same season.
To check the authenticity of a football shirt, locate the product label, note the code exactly as printed, and search it online. The result should match the exact shirt you are checking. If it returns a different shirt, no result, or inconsistent matches, treat it as a strong warning sign.
Adidas
On Adidas football shirts, the product label is usually located near the collar or, on older models, below the wash labels. The top line shows the production date; the second line contains the product code. This code must match the correct shirt exactly when searched online. Always compare with a verified original football shirt to confirm the details. You can browse our original Adidas football shirts as a reference.
Nike
Original Nike football shirts have the product label located below the main wash tag. It includes the production date, size and product code. This code must always lead to the exact same model when searched — no exceptions. If it returns a different result or inconsistent matches, this is a clear red flag. Compare with our verified Nike football shirts to check accuracy.
Puma
On Puma football shirts, the style number is printed directly on the wash label, often starting with the number 7. This code must match one specific shirt model. Be cautious of commonly reused fake codes — for example, code 757035-01 appears frequently on counterfeit versions of certain Puma shirts. If the same code shows up across different shirts, it is almost certainly not genuine. Compare with our authentic Puma football shirts to verify consistency.
New Balance
New Balance football shirts typically include a product code starting with "MT", usually printed near the top of the wash label on recent kits. The exact placement can vary, so always check all internal labels. In addition to verifying the code online, compare the labels themselves — including material, print quality and stitching. Genuine labels should be clean and well-finished, while poor printing, loose stitching or visible pinstripes are strong warning signs. Always match the code with a verified original football shirt. You can browse our New Balance collection as a reference.
Kappa
On Kappa football shirts, the product code is referred to as a "style number" and is always found on the internal labels, although the design and layout of these labels can vary across different time periods. In addition, Kappa uses a system with serial numbers. These can be entered on basiclabels.net to verify the shirt. If the code is correct, the website will display the exact model along with details such as the production date, manufacturing location and total quantity produced.
Castore
Castore football shirts usually use a four-digit product code system. For accurate search results, add "TM" in front of the code — for example, code "4137" should be searched as "TM4137." On internal labels, the code is followed by a production date (e.g. 4137/01/23), indicating the month and year of production.
In some cases, the internal label doesn't show the actual product code at all. For example, certain shirts — such as the Wolverhampton Wanderers third shirt 2022–23 — only display the full product code on the hang tags. Inside the shirt, you may only find a reference like "PO: 3540," but this is not the product code and should not be used to verify authenticity. If no proper code is present on the internal label, always check the hang tags for the correct product code (e.g. TM0624).
If you want to compare with verified originals, you can browse our Castore football shirts as a reference.
Other brands
Hummel
Hummel football shirts use style numbers, usually listed on the internal labels as "Style No" or "ST." These codes should only return results for the exact same shirt when searched online.
Jako
Jako follows a similar approach, often using codes that include abbreviations of the club or national team — for example, "BA" for Bayer Leverkusen or "ST" for Stuttgart. These codes must also match one specific shirt model.
Umbro
Umbro football shirts do not use standard product codes like most brands. Instead, they feature an "Official Licensed Product" code, similar to the authenticity badges used by Nike and Puma. Read our full Umbro real vs fake guide for more details.
Macron
Macron football shirts do not use standard product codes. When checking authenticity, it is therefore important to focus on other details such as label quality, materials, stitching and overall finish.
Authenticity Codes & Authentic Badges
Beyond product codes, many manufacturers place an authenticity badge or serial code on the outside of the football shirt, usually near the bottom hem. If the badge contains a unique code, search it online — it should not return results for other shirts. If it does, this is a strong sign of a counterfeit.
Nike has used external authenticity labels consistently since around 2008. While the design can vary by season, it remains consistent within the same release, making it easier to compare with shirts from the same year. Before that, these labels were typically placed inside the shirt on a small black tag next to the main wash labels (see first picture below).
Puma used similar labels for a few seasons, but now mainly applies an authenticity badge without a unique code as an additional check. Castore also uses external authenticity labels, although not consistently across all shirts.
Umbro has used them as well — older shirts often feature codes below the wash labels, while more recent models usually include an "Official Licensed Product" print on the side, although this is not present on every season. New Balance occasionally uses authenticity labels too, often as a larger black badge near the bottom hem.
Authenticity badges can provide valuable insight when checking a football shirt. Even without a visible code, focus on quality, print sharpness, material and placement. On fake shirts, these details often look slightly off. Always compare with a verified original from the same season.
Key Details
Beyond labels and codes, the physical details of a shirt will almost always reveal whether it is genuine. Always compare with a verified original football shirt from the same season and brand where possible. Look out for the following:
Wash labels — always compare the wash labels with a verified original from the same season. Pay close attention to the material, print quality and stitching. Genuine labels are clean and consistent, while counterfeit versions often show visible pinstripes, blurry text or poor finishing.
Club crest — the shape, colours, embroidery (if applicable) and overall finish must be sharp, well-aligned and consistent with official retail images from that specific season. On counterfeits, the shape is often slightly off and finer details tend to look less precise.
Text inside the neck — the font, spacing and print quality must match a verified original from the same brand and time period. Differences in font thickness or alignment are a reliable indicator of a counterfeit.
Placement of logos and sponsors — their position must match official product photos exactly. On fake shirts, logos and crests often sit slightly too high, too low or unevenly aligned.
Stitching around the neck and sleeves — on authentic shirts, stitching is clean, straight and consistent throughout. Counterfeits often show uneven stitching, loose threads or minor finishing flaws.
Printed details — including small text elements and inner prints. Print quality must be sharp and precise, without blurring or rough edges.
Sponsor logos and font — counterfeit shirts often use slightly incorrect letter shapes, spacing or thickness. Even small inconsistencies in sponsor branding can reveal that a shirt is not genuine.
Conclusion
Once you know what to look for, spotting a fake football shirt becomes much easier. Most counterfeits reveal themselves through small inconsistencies — and a suspiciously low price is often the first red flag.
By following these checks and comparing with a verified original, you can confidently tell the difference between a genuine and a counterfeit shirt.
Every shirt we offer is carefully checked for authenticity. Browse our collection of 100% original football shirts and buy with confidence.