Adidas Are Being Sued Over "Authentic" Shirts Sold to Fans
Adidas is being sued in the USA over the “authentic” NHL jerseys on sale to fans, which are claimed to be closer to “replica” standards as they differ significantly from the shirts worn by the NHL players themselves.
Adidas Being Sued over Quality of "Authentic" NHL Shirts
Classaction.com has reported the plaintiff’s claims that the “authentic” NHL jerseys are different with regard to fit, fabric and stitching. The jerseys the players wear are produced in Canada, while the ones sold to fans are made in Indonesia.
The photo above shows the pro players' shirts (top) compared to the "authentic" versions (bottom) that are sold to fans.
As the lawsuit tells it, Adidas’ “authentic” NHL jerseys are “closer to counterfeit” jerseys than to those worn by the pros.
The plaintiff maintains that the labeling of these shirts as authentic is misleading, and the actual value of the product is not equal to the monetary value placed on it by Adidas. They argue that this misleading advertising and promotion has led to Adidas increased profits for Adidas which they would not have made if not for the “authentic” status of the shirts, and that it would be more accurate to describe them as "replicas".
The lawsuit is being taken against Adidas America, who are also responsible for the production of MLS kits. They have attracted a lot of criticism over the last couple of seasons for the very visible differences between authentic and replica jerseys.
Authentic Adidas Football Shirts - Match Issue vs Player Issue
Real Madrid player issue authentic shirt
When it comes to football shirts, the same complaint cannot be made. Authentic Adidas kits available to fans are virtually identical to the match issue versions worn by the players, with only some very small differences. One such difference is that the match issue shirts have a number printed on the inside of the collar, and they generally don’t have wash labels, but his information is printed on the inside of the shirt instead.
Authentic and Player Issue Adidas football kits only have unnoticeable differences
However, the differences between authentic and replica Adidas football shirts are certainly noticeable. 21-22 authentic shirts made for Adidas’ elite teams have the following features:
- Made for the pros - slim-fit, as light as possible
- Heat-transfer badge
- Heat-transfer Adidas logo, 3-Stripes, and sponsor name
- Breathable, air-cooling HEAT.RDY technology
- Light front to back drop in hem length to improve freedom of movement
- Ribbed crewneck, slim-fit design
- Ribbed sleeve cuff with tipping
- Made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials
21-22 replica kits for elite teams are characterised by the following aspects:
- Made for the fan
- Woven cannon on the chest
- Woven Adidas logo
- 3-Stripe tape on shoulders
- Stay dry with AEROREADY technology
- Straight hem shape - regular fit
- Ribbed crewneck
- Ribbed sleeve cuff with tipping
- Made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials
What is your opinion on the quality of Adidas authentic and replica kits from your own experience with them? Let’s hear it in the comments.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
2006/07 Le Mans *Player Issue* Home Shirt (L) Kappa
1990 Umbro #19 Italia 90 *BNWT* Reissue Template Away Shirt (Multiple Sizes)
2016/17 Germany Away Shirt (S) Adidas
2021/22 Chelsea Mount #19 *Match Issue* Home Shirt (M) Nike
2013 Netherlands *BNWT* Vs Romania Home Shirt (S) Nike
Iconic Manchester United Shirts A3 Print
2020/21 Lyon *Mint* Adidas Training Jacket (M)
1996/97 Wolves Away Shirt (S) Puma
2004/05 AC Milan Seedorf #20 Home Shirt (L) Adidas
1985 Kodak All Stars #10 Home Shirt (M) Asics
Liverpool 26-27 Goalkeeper Kit Leaked
River Plate 1996 Remake Jacket Leaked
Adidas will release a River 1996 remake kit + collection in 2026. Now, we can exclusively another piece of the collection, a track jacket.
See the full River Plate 1996 remake collection: https://www.footyheadlines.com/2026/02/adidas-river-plate-1996-remake-home-kit.html
AS Saint-Étienne 1976 European Cup Final Remake Kit Revealed
Exactly 50 years to the day after the famous European Cup final in Glasgow, Le Coq Sportif has released a special limited-edition reissue of the iconic AS Saint-Étienne 1976 kit. Paying tribute to the legendary Dominique Rocheteau, the brand has meticulously reproduced his number 7 jersey directly from their Romilly-sur-Seine workshops. The retro green shirt faithfully maintains the original cut, material, and classic blue-white-red tricolor collar of the era.
The limited collection is available soon via the official Le Coq Sportif web store. It features a long-sleeved version retailing for €110, a short-sleeved option for €89, and a matching track jacket priced at €190.
All-New Ligue 3 Revealed
The French Football Federation (FFF) has officially announced the launch of the fully professional "Ligue 3" for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, permanently replacing the current third-tier Championnat National. This historic move marks the first time the FFF will directly organize a professional men's league.
As part of this major restructuring of the French football pyramid, the lower divisions will also be renamed for better clarity: the current National 2 will become National 1, and National 3 will shift to National 2. The newly formed 18-team Ligue 3 aims to bring greater financial stability, technological innovation such as a coaches' video challenge system, and increased exposure to the division, with all 309 matches set to be broadcast exclusively on the Ligue 1+ platform.
To mark this monumental transition, the FFF has also introduced a completely new visual identity for the competition. The rebranding is centered around a modern logo that combines the rectangular shape of a football pitch with the tiered structure of a stadium grandstand. This design visually embodies the league's new official slogan, "Terrain de rencontres" (Meeting Ground), aiming to highlight the intersection of professional ambition and popular, locally rooted football.
Kappa San Martín de Tucumán 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
The Kappa San Martín de Tucumán 2026-2027 home and away kits were launched today, showing off the Argentine club's visual direction for the upcoming campaign.
The home jersey embraces a highly traditional aesthetic, featuring the team's iconic thick red and white vertical stripes, a solid red v-neck collar, and contrasting black text for the Kappa logo and "Caja Popular de Ahorros" main sponsor.
In stark contrast, the away kit introduces a sleek and modern look, utilizing a dark charcoal grey base with subtle tonal vertical bands. To maintain a strong connection to the club's heritage, the alternate shirt is sharply accented with vibrant red detailing on the collar and sleeve cuffs, alongside crisp white branding.
Uniqlo J.League All-Stars 2026 Kits Released
The J.League has officially unveiled the uniforms for the upcoming 2026 All-Star DAZN Cup, produced in a unique collaboration with Japanese retail giant Uniqlo and exclusively designed by Francesco Risso.
The bold aesthetic of the All-Star collection is deeply rooted in heritage, utilizing a traditional Japanese ink-marbling technique known as "suminagashi" to create a fluid, organic pattern across the fabric. The shirts carry a deeper meaning as a "garment of gratitude," featuring a special bow-style motif on the back that symbolizes the strong connection tying together the league's players, staff, and passionate supporters. To ensure all fans are represented, the collection drops in six distinct colorways mapped to the tournament's division brackets. The top-flight J1 teams will wear red (East) and blue (West), while the combined J2 and J3 divisions are split into four regional subgroups: light blue (East-A), green (East-B), yellow (West-A), and purple (West-B).
Players will also use a special custom match ball produced by Sfida, which boasts a nostalgic design heavily inspired by the iconic football anime Captain Tsubasa.
Which of the six suminagashi colorways from this Francesco Risso-designed collection is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
Al-Nassr Gives Away Free Adidas Shirts to Every Fan in Stadium
For the crucial Saudi Pro League clash against Al Hilal SFC, Al Nassr made something special. To boost morale and strengthen the sense of unity, the club gave free team shirts to every fan attending the match (no match kits but training shirts).
