How to Detect Fake Football Jerseys

The National Football League is the largest grossing football organization in the United States. Only the top athletes in this sport play at this level, and they make a lot of money doing it. Fans of the game spend billions of dollars to watch, attend and buy team specific merchandise. Which is why counterfeit goods are so prevalent. Thieves stand to make a substantial profit from the sale of this memorabilia, which is why so much money is spent making detailed fakes. Detecting fakes is not an easy task, particularly with items like jerseys, where the style and material can change year to year. Expect to spend a considerable amount of time researching the jersey you are authenticating. Also bear in mind that there are two definitions of "fake jersey" used. The first implies that the jersey is not made by a licensed retailer; the second that the jersey is not an authentic replica.

Instructions

  1. 2010 Officially Licensed Jersey

    • 1

      Look for the "Reebok" logo, on both sleeves and the lower left corner.

    • 2

      Examine all lettering and numbering for typographical errors. For example, make sure that the player's number and last name are correct.

    • 3

      Consider the price; an officially licensed jersey costs $80 or more from an official retailer as of January 2011. View any gross discount as a red flag and have the item examined by an appraiser you trust.

    2010 Authentic Jersey

    • 4

      Examine the color scheme of the jersey to ensure it matches the team colors.

    • 5

      Look at the shaping of the jersey; if it has sharply contoured sides and falls just below the waistline it is most likely a replica or premier and not authentic.

    • 6

      Feel the fabric; authentic jerseys are thicker and heavier than fakes.

    • 7

      Look at the lettering and number of the player name, number and team graphic; all authentic jerseys feature sewn-on tackle twill.

    • 8

      Compare the size of the player number on the front and back of the jersey; the back numbers should be larger.

    • 9

      Examine the tag; if it says "On Field" instead of "Authentic" it is most likely a fake.