Qatari authorities said on Wednesday they had seized 144 fake World Cup trophies, the latest crackdown on fakes hitting the market ahead of the soccer tournament, which starts later this month.
The interior ministry said officers launched an operation “acting on a piece of information about a website that promotes the sale of replica World Cup cups.”
It released a photo showing 144 life-size trophies on a floor and said “further legal procedures will be followed”.
The Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department, in cooperation with the Intellectual Property Protection Committee, seized 144 counterfeit cups similar to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, for violation of Law number 10/2021 on hosting FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. #MOIQatar pic.twitter.com/ysRXlhmo2S
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) November 2, 2022
The ministry did not say where the trophies were found or whether any suspects have been detained.
Soccer’s governing body FIFA and Qatari authorities have recently stepped up warnings about distributing or buying World Cup fakes.
In June, Qatar warned drivers that it was illegal to put the World Cup logo on vehicle number plates, after which the special plates were sold in an online auction.
A month ago, police arrested five people for selling fake clothes with World Cup logos.
In late 2021, they raided a factory in the Gulf state that was illegally manufacturing bottled perfume using the World Cup brand.
