CBP seizes thousands of counterfeit soccer apparel items

U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 5,000 pieces of counterfeit soccer apparel items near the Washington Dulles International Airport Nov. 2.    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents seized 5,383 pieces of counterfeit soccer apparel items Nov. 2 near the Washington Dulles International Airport.
   If genuine, the apparel would have had an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $16,791, according to CBP.
   The apparel, which included jersey tops and shorts, represented a variety of “football” clubs including -Arsenal, Barcelona, Brazil, Bayern Munchen, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur football clubs.
   “Soccer is one of the most popular sports around the world, and these clubs possess valuable intellectual property rights. It’s no surprise that some people will do anything to capitalize on the sport’s popularity, even if that includes resorting to theft of a trademark holder’s rights and revenues,” U.S. CBP Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles Wayne Biondi said in a statement.