Imagine buying your team’s match-worn jersey, showing it off at the pub, and someone says: “Mate, that’s fake.” Talk about heartbreak.
Brentford F.C. has a fix: microchips in their match-worn shirts to stop fakes dead in their tracks. Seriously—like James Bond gadgets but for football gear.
How does it work?
They use NFC chips (like your contactless bank card) heat-pressed into the hem before the match. Scan it with your phone. Boom—you see which player wore it and in what game. No more guesswork. Just real, verified, match-worn glory.
Why bother?
Because fakes are everywhere. The Premier League’s counterfeit shirt market is worth around £180 million a year. Meanwhile, official sales topped £480 million last season. That’s a lot of fake kits floating around, ripping off clubs and fans alike.
The big wins
For clubs: Brand protection, fewer fakes.
For fans: Confidence you’re buying the real deal.
For collectors: Digital authenticity boosts value at auction (some shirts sell for over £1,000!).
For good causes: Brentford auctions these authenticated jerseys to fund heart disease research.
Big clubs like PSG, Feyenoord, and Anderlecht already use this tech. And it might soon be on retail jerseys. Imagine verifying your new kit with a tap. Goodbye fakes. Hello certainty.
This won’t kill all counterfeits. Cheap knock-offs will still be around for those who don’t care. But for serious collectors and fans, NFC is a game-changer—and it raises awareness about buying authentic.
What’s this got to do with Cuservi?
We’re in the same game: fighting fakes, boosting efficiency, and making retail smarter.
Our RFID solutions help brands track stock, prevent theft, and manage inventory with scanners, tunnels, and even discreet alarms. Imagine scanning a pallet and knowing exactly what’s inside, no unboxing.
Our Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) let stores change prices from one device, highlight promos in color, cut paper waste, and even support dynamic pricing like airlines.
We love seeing clubs use smart tech to protect their brand and give fans peace of mind. At Cuservi, we help you do the same in retail.
