Is your Umbro shirt genuine or a fake? With so much counterfeit sportswear on the market, it can be hard to tell the difference — especially when buying online. Umbro has produced some of the most distinctive football shirts over the years, from classic Manchester United kits to more recent club shirts from a wide range of teams.
In this guide, we walk you through everything to look out for: from serial numbers and labels to the logo, material and overall finish — so you can confidently check and compare your own shirt, whether it's a classic or a more recent release. One red flag doesn't necessarily mean a shirt is fake, but several issues together are usually a strong indicator.
We used a PSV away shirt 2018-19 and a Peru home shirt 2018 as reference examples throughout this guide.
The Umbro logo
The double diamond logo is one of the most reliable indicators of authenticity. On genuine shirts, the diamonds are sharp and well-defined, with clean lines and correct proportions. The ‘Umbro’ wordmark is neatly aligned with consistent letter spacing. Logo styles can vary slightly across different eras, but they are always consistent within the same period.
On fake shirts, these details are often less precise. The diamonds may appear slightly distorted or uneven, while the lettering can look crooked or inconsistently spaced.
A common flaw is visible stitching lines between the letters — something that doesn’t appear on genuine Umbro logos.
Crests and Badges
The club or national team crest is one of the most telling details on any football shirt. On genuine shirts, the crest is always clean, well-defined and correctly proportioned. When embroidered, the stitching is tight with clean edges and consistent colour fill.
On fake shirts, the overall shape is often slightly off and details tend to look less precise. Colours can also differ subtly, with tones that appear slightly off compared to the original.
Placement is another key detail. Genuine shirts position the crest precisely in relation to sponsors and other logos, while on fakes it often sits slightly too high, too low or unevenly aligned.
A well-known example is Paris Saint-Germain: on fake PSG shirts, the crest is almost always rotated slightly — something that never happens on an official shirt. Looking for a reference? Explore our original Paris Saint-Germain shirts.
Internal labels
The labels on the inside of the shirt are a reliable indicator of quality and authenticity. On genuine Umbro shirts, the care labels are neatly printed or stitched, with sharp text, clean edges and straight stitching. The material has a slight sheen and the shirt typically features multiple separate labels.
Label designs can vary significantly between seasons, so it's always best to compare them with a verified original from the same year or model. Pay close attention to any pinstripes in the label — this is almost always a sign of a fake. As Umbro doesn’t use widely verifiable product codes in the same way as some other brands, you’ll need to assess the labels based on their finish, material and legibility.
Official Licensed Product Code
One of the first things to check on any Umbro shirt is the serial number. Unlike Nike, Adidas or Puma — where every model carries one fixed authentication code — Umbro gives each shirt its own unique number. This number typically returns no results when searched online. If it does, that's a red flag.
On newer shirts the serial number usually appears on an external label; on older shirts it's on the inside — but it works the same way either way. On fake shirts, this number is often missing entirely.
Official Licensed Product Label
Some Umbro shirts don't have a serial number at all — instead, they feature an 'Official Licensed Product' label on the outside. The quality and positioning of this label can help you assess authenticity, but always use it alongside the other checks in this guide.
Where possible, compare the label to a verified original from the same season. Small differences in font, colour or placement will stand out immediately. Looking for a verified original to compare with? Browse our Umbro shirts.
Overall finish
The overall finish of a shirt tells you a lot about whether it's genuine. Feel the fabric and compare it to an original where possible — fakes often feel clammy and less supple.
Look out for the following details:
- Neck, sleeves and underarms — check that the seams are tight and even. Loose threads or messy stitching around panel joins are a bad sign.
- Neck print — the text on the inside of the collar should be sharp and straight. Blurry or crooked printing points to a fake.
- Stitching — look closely at the stitching throughout the shirt. On fakes it's often uneven, too loose or too thick.
- Colours — compare the colour to a genuine shirt. Fakes sometimes differ slightly in shade, which is most noticeable on white or brightly coloured panels.
- Logos and sponsors — pay attention to the size, font and material of any sponsor branding. On fake shirts, these details often differ from the original.
Conclusion
By working through the checks above and comparing where possible to a verified original, you can quickly and confidently tell the difference between a genuine and a fake Umbro shirt. A single flaw doesn't make a shirt a fake, but several issues together are a strong warning sign.
Always be critical when buying — a suspiciously low price is often the first red flag.
Looking to buy genuine football shirts with confidence? Browse our collection of original football shirts.