Authenticity
Guarantee
00 Our Approach To Authenticity
Most of the football shirts we sell are pre-owned, and many come from different eras, countries and previous owners. We take care to assess each item before it is listed and do our best to ensure that shirts offered for sale are genuine products.
We do not manufacture the branded football shirts sold on our website, and TopBinz is not presented as an official or authorised reseller of the brands, clubs or teams featured on those products. We operate as an independent retailer specialising primarily in pre-owned football shirts.
01 How We Check Shirts
Each shirt is reviewed before it is made available for sale. The checks we carry out depend on the age, manufacturer and type of shirt.
- Manufacturer and care labels.
- Product codes and label details where available.
- Materials, stitching and construction.
- Badges, sponsors, prints and design details.
- Known characteristics of the relevant shirt and era.
02 Pre-Owned & Vintage Products
Most products sold by TopBinz are pre-owned rather than newly manufactured stock. Because these items may be many years old, labels, printing, materials and condition can vary between shirts.
Age-related wear or differences in manufacturing do not necessarily indicate that a shirt is not genuine. We assess items using the information and reference points available for the individual shirt.
03 Product Information
We aim to describe products accurately and provide photographs of the actual item being sold wherever possible.
Customers should review the product photographs, description, condition information, sizing and measurements before purchasing.
04 Player, Match Issue & Match Worn Shirts
For higher-specification shirts, we use more precise terminology so customers understand exactly what they are buying. These terms are not interchangeable, and we only use them where the construction, specification and available evidence support the description.
Player Version
Player Version refers to a retail shirt designed to closely replicate the version worn by professional players. These shirts are usually lighter, more fitted and may use different materials, badge applications, ventilation panels or performance technology compared with standard replica shirts. We check the product code, internal labels, construction, materials, fit, badge and sponsor application, and other known manufacturer details for that model.
Player Issue
Player Issue refers to a shirt produced or prepared for use by a professional player or team, but not necessarily worn in a match. These shirts can differ from retail player versions through sizing, internal labelling, materials, patches, heat-applied details or other team-specific features. We assess the shirt against known player-specification characteristics and, where possible, compare product codes, labels, measurements and construction details with documented examples from the same team, season and manufacturer.
Match Issue
Match Issue refers to a shirt specifically prepared for a particular match but not confirmed as having been worn. This may include match-specific sleeve patches, namesets, numbers, competition details or other preparation features. We look for consistency between the shirt and the relevant match, including the competition, player, squad number, shirt specification and any match-specific detailing. Where provenance is available, we take this into account as part of the assessment.
Match Worn
Match Worn refers to a shirt that is represented as having actually been worn by a player during a specific competitive or official match. Because this is a stronger provenance claim, we look for more than just player-specification features. We assess any available supporting evidence, such as certificates, auction or club provenance, previous ownership history, photographic matching, match-specific details, documented player exchange, or other credible links between the shirt, player and match. Wear, marks or damage alone are never treated as proof that a shirt is match worn.
Player Worn
Player Worn refers to a shirt that has been worn by a professional player, but where it may not be possible to confirm the exact match or competitive appearance. This can include shirts worn in training, warm-ups, promotional activity or other player use. We assess the specification of the shirt alongside any provenance, ownership history or supporting documentation linking it to the player.
Where we cannot confidently support a stronger claim, we will not describe a shirt as player issue, match issue, player worn or match worn. We aim to make the basis of each description clear and will include relevant provenance or identifying details in the product listing wherever available.
05 If You Have A Concern
If you have a genuine concern about the authenticity of a shirt purchased from TopBinz, please contact us with your order number and clear photographs of the item and its labels.
We will review the information available and, where appropriate, may ask for the item to be returned so that it can be examined directly.
06 Our Commitment
We do our best to ensure that products sold as genuine football shirts are genuine based on our inspection process and the information available to us.
We do not knowingly list counterfeit products as genuine. If we determine that a product we sold as genuine is not genuine, we will work with the customer to resolve the issue, including a refund where appropriate.
Questions About A Shirt?
If you have a question about a product you purchased from TopBinz, please contact sales@topbinzfootballshirts.co.uk with your order number and relevant photographs.