COA and LOA Proof for Signed Football Shirts: Collector's Guide

Certificates of Authenticity (COA) and Letters of Authenticity (LOA) help collectors reduce risk when buying signed Football Shirts. They are not equal. The issuer, the method, and the record behind the paper determine trust. This guide explains how to read a COA or LOA, how to verify serials and holograms, where fakes appear, and when modern NFC proof matters. We focus on checks you can perform in minutes and the decisions they support. Use the steps to confirm that the document matches the exact shirt and signer, and that the trail leads to a source you trust. Keep the narrative simple. Protect your capital. Collect with confidence.

Paul de Metter, Founder of Walkouts: Collectors deserve certainty. We back items with proof you can verify yourself, then show you how to check it so you can collect with confidence.

Proof that matters: issuer credibility and traceability

Start with the name on the document. A COA or LOA is only as strong as the issuer’s reputation and the traceability it provides. In our field, recognised authenticators and official signing partners publish verifiable records. That is the benchmark. Ask two questions before anything else. Who issued this proof. How can I independently confirm it. A paper that cannot be traced is a claim. A serialised hologram with a matching database entry is evidence. Examine the issuer details, the serial or QR, and the language on the document.

Strong issuers avoid vague phrases such as “to the best of our knowledge.” They include specific item descriptors, a serial, and a way to confirm the record against the exact shirt and signer. If a seller presents their own COA, treat it as context only. You are still relying on the seller’s opinion. Prefer documentation from a known authenticator or an official signing programme that witnessed the signing or examined the item to a measurable standard. If anything looks off or the serial does not resolve, pass and redirect your budget to a shirt with a clear record. See our overview in Signing Proof and cross reference with our Knowledge Base and Collecting.

Learn more on what we consider to be Premium Authenticators.

COA or LOA: format, substance, and when each works

COA means a compact card or slip, usually paired with a sticker or hologram on the shirt or tag. LOA means a full letter on the authenticator’s letterhead. Both can be valid if issued by a trusted name and tied to an online or recorded entry. Official stationary paper often also features hologram-like features or glow. The choice is practical. COA suits modern shirts where a discreet on-item serial enables quick lookups without adding bulk. LOA suits delicate fabrics, vintage flocking, or collectors who prefer no sticker on the garment. LOAs tend to include more detail. Many include an image of the item and a signature description.

Below is the scanned Letter of Authenticity of Beckett, omitting authentic stationary features that will only be shared on purchase. Also, the watermark provides guardrails against re-usage by unlicensed parties.

The test is not COA versus LOA in isolation. The test is whether the document’s data matches the shirt. Confirm player, item type, team, era, and any inscription. Check that the description lines up with the shirt version and printing. If the record states a home shirt and your item is an away shirt, stop and investigate. Use our primer in Photo and Video Proof to align wording, era, and images.

First-party signings vs third-party authentication: how each adds confidence

There are two strong routes to proof. First-party programmes run official signings and attach their own documentation. Third-party authenticators examine items and apply their standards. First-party proof is powerful for modern squads and star signers. The organiser witnesses the session and assigns a code at source. Description, image, or session data should link back to the specific run of shirts. Third-party proof is powerful for items outside current signings and for legacy pieces. The authenticator inspects the signature and issues a serialised outcome with a database record. Both routes are widely accepted among serious collectors when the record is searchable and the description is specific.

Be aware of typical scope. First-party signers often focus on contemporary players and recent seasons. Third-party services cover broad eras and can grade signatures. Either way, rely on the record, not the brand name alone. Read the entry text. Match it to the shirt. Cross-check against images you control. If a first-party card looks correct but the serial resolves to a different item, you have a problem. If a third-party sticker is present but the database says “no result,” you have a bigger problem. We reflect these differences in how we score proof in our internal Walkouts Rating, which weighs witness evidence, serialisation, and data clarity.

Serials, holograms, QR and databases: what to test before you buy

Serialisation converts opinion into traceable data. Treat it as a checklist. Inspect the hologram or sticker for tamper evidence and quality. Note the code format. Scan any QR and confirm it resolves to the issuer. Input the code into the issuer’s search if a QR is not present. Compare every field you see to the shirt in hand or in the listing. Player name, item type, team, season description, inscription, and any unique notes should align. Look for a thumbnail photo if one is provided and make sure it is not a generic stock image. A record that resolves to a different sport, a different item, or a generic term is a pass.

The Fanatics hologram features a two-way verification only possible with the actual hologram in hand, as with this Limited Edition Harry Kane football shirt. When still sealed, this is additional proof and extra precious for collectors.

Beware reused serials scraped from public listings. A quick sign is when the serial exists online but the item you are viewing shows different details. When you can, perform the lookup on your own device rather than relying on screenshots. Save your own screenshots or a PDF of the result for your notes. If a seller refuses to provide the serial for a paid-for item under inspection, reconsider the transaction. If a serial is hidden by a scratch panel, ask for an in-person scan or a short video that reveals the code while showing the same shirt, then verify the result.

Risks and red flags you can spot early

Seller-issued COAs are common. Many are honest. Some are not. The risk is that anyone can print a convincing document. Look for warning signs. Unknown issuer name. No address or contact details. No serial. Overly broad wording. Fancy paper with no way to verify. Treat those as weak proof. Be cautious with generic signing photos that do not show your shirt version.

Learn the fake patterns for popular players. Counterfeiters use look-alike cards and stickers, and sometimes recycle serial numbers. Low prices can signal weak proof. If an item claims a top-tier COA yet sits well below market, assume something is wrong until proven right. If you discover a mismatch, use platform windows quickly. Ask for a second opinion before the return period closes. Keep correspondence, the COA scan, and any listing images. If the issuer is recognised but the record is wrong, contact them using the details on their site. If the issuer is unknown, walk away.

Time is capital. Spend it on shirts with layered, verifiable proof. For case studies on what strong evidence looks like, see Knowledge Base and Collecting.

NFC and digital certificates for match-worn: how Fabricks ties shirt to record

Match-worn shirts benefit from proof that binds the physical item to a digital record. Fabricks uses a secure NFC chip embedded in the garment and a cloud certificate that loads when you scan with your phone. This is two-factor verification. The chip must be present and readable. The record must exist and display the correct item data. If you try to reach the page without a valid scan, the system can flag that no authenticated NFC interaction occurred. That reduces cloning risk. A good Fabricks record includes match details and a digital certificate ID. Ask to scan the chip if buying in person.

Below is an example of an NFC Chip from Fabricks used by MWS (MatchWornShirts). It is neatly embedded within the shirt. When scanned with the phone directly you get the online COA rendered without any warnings. Copy the URL and render it again, and it will show errors. This prohibits counterfeits.

If buying remotely, request a short scan video that shows the shirt, the tap, and the live record. Then take your own screenshots once the shirt arrives. This approach is now standard for high-end match-worn. It complements COAs and LOAs and gives future buyers confidence that the record belongs to the exact shirt. For a deeper explainer, see Fabricks Match-Worn Football Shirts and revisit Signing Proof for how NFC sits alongside photo and video proof.

Collector checklist

Use this quick checklist when evaluating COA or LOA proof on a signed Football Shirt.

At Walkouts, we have chosen not to provide a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) or Letter of Authentication (LOA) ourselves, as we believe they should be issued by premium authenticators that bring true value to collectors. That's why we partner with them and do the hard work for you.

Learn more: review our guides in Knowledge Base and Collecting.