Poor quality, "toxic products"... Why you shouldn't succumb to the temptation of buying a counterfeit PSG collector's jersey

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Following its Champions League victory, the Parisian club's brand new collector's jersey is selling so hot, it's causing stock shortages. This is fueling the counterfeit market, which is not without risk.

A jersey at a golden price and sold out. Since PSG's victory in the Champions League on Saturday, May 31, the team's new jersey, which can now feature a star , has been highly sought after. The collector's version features a star in the shape of the Eiffel Tower and, on the back, it is printed with "Champions of Europe" , accompanied by the number "25" , which corresponds to the year of the triumph, and the motto "Ici c'est Paris" . Unveiled the day after the final, its price is 130 euros in official stores.

More than 80 collector items have been available since Sunday, but it's the latest PSG jersey that fans are snapping up. Those who were able to get their hands on it waited several hours outside official stores, which were quickly sold out on Sunday.

As of Thursday, all of the Parisian club's collector jerseys—men's, women's, and children's—are out of stock, including on the PSG online store. The precious jerseys are now selling for a fortune on resale sites. The men's version is selling for between €280 and €700 on LeBonCoin. For disappointed fans, the temptation to turn to counterfeits may be great.

"Sports goods are products that are copied a lot," says Delphine Sarfati-Sobreira, general director of the Union of Manufacturers, Unifab, an anti-counterfeiting association. "These are products that are popular with all consumers, and so, inevitably, when the products are appealing, there are a lot of counterfeits circulating," she adds.

According to a 2023 Ifop survey , 15% of respondents have already purchased counterfeit sports goods. This figure is 20% among 15-18 year-olds.

"At every sporting event, counterfeiters know full well that fans will be lining up to buy the products."

Delphine Sarfati-Sobreira, Director General of Unifab

to franceinfo

In 2024, counterfeit games, toys and sporting goods represented 26% of the products seized by French customs, which specifies that, in detail, 139,000 counterfeit sporting goods were withdrawn from the market. These counterfeits are generally less expensive than the real product, and this is also an element allowing them to be differentiated. But when there are stock shortages, it is "dangerous" , warns the general director of Unifab, because " counterfeiters implement a marketing technique to sell products more expensively, this creates doubt in the mind of the consumer."

The place of purchase, such as official football jersey stores and retailers, is another way to distinguish a genuine item from a fake. " When you buy the right product in the right place, you're more confident you're buying an authentic product," insists Delphine Sarfati-Sobreira. Online, it's more difficult for consumers to navigate due to numerous resale and mirror sites. On fake jerseys, the stitching may be rougher, the fonts different, the logos flocked rather than embroidered, and the fabric may also be of lower quality, according to Unifab.

Buying counterfeit items carries risks. "They don't meet any standards ," says Unifab's general director. "So there may be excessively strong dyes or toxic products that are dangerous to health or safety." There is also a criminal risk, which ranges from seizure of the item to a fine of 300,000 euros and up to three years in prison. By wearing a fake jersey, "you can be checked by the police on the road," explains Delphine Sarfati-Sobreira, " or by customs if you cross a border." But in everyday life , "it is unlikely that, on the street, a police officer, a customs officer, or a gendarme will stop you to ask if your product is authentic," she admits.

To combat counterfeiting and prevent consumers from being duped, "we need to dry up the supply," according to Unifab's general director. It's easier to take action in France at flea markets, such as in Saint-Ouen near Paris, than in China, where 80% of counterfeit products are manufactured. The future Paris Saint-Germain jersey for the 2025-2026 season will be unveiled on June 11.