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.
Kuching City FC 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Malaysian Super League club Kuching City FC has officially unveiled its new kit collection for the 26-27 season, made by local brand Starsport. The new range incorporates local Sarawak identity, vibrant graphics, and fresh color palettes across the entire set.
The Starsport Kuching City 26-27 home jersey features a distinctive half-and-half look in amazon green and white, complemented by embossed club crest motifs throughout the fabric and red-and-white detailing on the collar and cuffs. The away shirt brings a bold statement in red, highlighted by a black and yellow waving checkerboard pattern across the chest and shoulders along with a classic polo collar. Rounding out the outfield range, the third jersey opts for a pastel peach base accented by lime green trim on the v-neck collar and cuffs alongside subtle tonal pinstripes.
Alongside the outfield shirts, Starsport introduced three colorful goalkeeper strips featuring energetic halftone dotted graphics in orange and purple, teal and dark blue, and yellow and gold. All kits proudly feature AirBorneo and AFFIN BANK as the primary front-of-shirt sponsors.
CS Sedan 26-27 Away Kit Released
French side CS Sedan Ardennes and technical sponsor Kappa have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 2026-27 season. Released under the slogan "SEDAN, PARTOUT" (Sedan, Everywhere), the design aims to celebrate the club's history and heritage across the Ardennes region and beyond.
The Kappa CS Sedan Ardennes 26-27 away shirt features an off-white base complemented by subtle vertical pinstripes on the body. A split-color aesthetic defines the upper sections, incorporating a dark green right sleeve and a rich red left sleeve, mirroring Sedan's classic club colors. The design also features the iconic Kappa Banda running along the shoulders, a custom "1919" sleeve badge paying homage to the year the club was founded, and the club motto placed inside the collar.
The new kit was worn on the pitch for the first time during Sedan's fixture against OCPAM. The CS Sedan Ardennes 2026-27 away shirt is available to purchase through the club's official online store for €70.
Triana CF 26-27 Third Kit Released
Spanish lower-tier club Triana CF and Italian sportswear brand Kappa have unveiled the club's new third shirt for the 26-27 season. Based in Seville's historic Triana neighborhood, the club once again puts its local identity at the center of its kit design.
The Kappa Triana CF 26-27 third jersey combines a clean black base with stylish bronze accents. The centerpiece of the design is a detailed, vintage-style illustration of the iconic Triana Bridge (Puente de Isabel II) across the lower half of the front, complete with its classic streetlamps and reflections in the river.
Matching bronze details complete the look, including monochrome club crest, Kappa Omini chest logo, and the brand's signature Banda trim along the shoulders. The neighborhood name "TRIANA" sits across the center of the chest in place of a traditional shirt sponsor.
Johor Darul Ta'zim 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim has officially unveiled its new 26-27 home and away kits, created in collaboration with Nike. Marking the 12th consecutive year of the partnership between the Southern Tigers and the American sportswear giant, the new designs follow the earlier release of the club's vibrant pink alternate shirt.
The Nike Johor Darul Ta'zim 26-27 home jersey combines two distinct blue shades, Blue Void and Deep Royal Blue, highlighted by dynamic tiger stripe graphics across the front that celebrate the club's identity. Contrasting Sport Red accents line the collar, sleeve cuffs, and side stripes. For the away strip, Nike delivers a clean and refined all-white design accented with Blue Void blue trims and a red Swoosh.
Inter Miami 2027 Home Kit Leaked - 2 New Pictures
Footy Headlines can now leak 2 new pictures of the Inter Miami 2027 home kit. Although it is a fake, the design is identical to the real one.
The new Inter Miami 2027 home shirt features a pink gradient across the entire fabric, inspired by Miami's famous pink skies, combined with matching pink Adidas stripes and a pink collar with black accents.
The kit's pink gradient is composed of small horizontal stripes that progressively get bigger to create the color fade, and it utilizes the same template as the Argentina 2026 World Cup kit.
A.C. Pavia 26-27 Home, Away, Third & Fourth Kits Released
Italian club A.C. Pavia and technical sponsor Astra have officially launched the club's new home, away, third, and fourth kits for the 26-27 season. The extensive collection draws inspiration from five centuries of the city of Pavia's art, architecture, and history, with each jersey carrying the local dialect motto "Al Pavia l'è dla gent" (Pavia belongs to the people) beneath the back of the collar.
The A.C. Pavia 26-27 home shirt features the club's signature royal blue adorned with a detailed tonal graphic commemorating the 1525 Battle of Pavia. The look is finished with a white ribbed polo collar and sleeve cuffs accented with red and blue piping, nodding to classic retro designs. Meanwhile, the away kit takes a clean white base decorated with an intricate grey pattern representing historic Pavia majolica ceramics, framed by bright blue crew neck and cuff trims.
Sharing a common theme, the third and fourth shirts both showcase the renowned Ark of Saint Augustine from the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro. The third kit applies the artwork across a deep granata base with ivory detailing and a matching collar, while the fourth kit is styled in ivory to mirror the monument's Candoglia marble, topped with a black polo collar and blue-striped ribbed cuffs.
Special FC Barcelona 26-27 Fourth Kit Leaked - 2 Real Pictures
Footy Headlines can now leak 2 new pictures of the FC Barcelona 26-27 fourth kit. Although it is a fake, the design is identical to the real one.
The FC Barcelona 26-27 fourth kit, known as the 'Saint Jordi' edition, features a light beige color contrasted by dark navy and garnet, moving away from the usual yellow or Blaugrana colors.
The special-edition kit pays tribute to Catalonia’s patron saint, Saint Jordi, with a design incorporating the red cross of Saint George on a flat opal color.
Northampton Town 26-27 Third Kit Released
Northampton Town and Puma have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 2026-27 season, completing the Cobblers' full wardrobe for the campaign. The new strip is set to make its on-pitch debut in the upcoming away fixture against Crewe Alexandra.
The Puma Northampton Town 2026-27 third shirt introduces a modern, dark grey base adorned with an intricate, brushstroke-like graphic pattern across the front in subtle claret and light grey tones. The collar and sleeve cuffs are detailed with clean black trim, while the club crest, Puma logo, and University of Northampton sponsor appear in crisp monochrome white.
Matching dark grey shorts and socks complete the uniform, creating a cohesive, stealthy aesthetic from top to bottom. The new 26-27 third kit is available to purchase now via the club's official online store.