Close-up of a Christie's booklet with a document, on a red and black AC Milan football shirt with white nr. "9".

Physical Evidence

Physical Evidence in Football Shirt Authentication

For football shirt collectors, physical evidence is the paperwork and items that travel with a shirt: certificates, auction documents, tags and booklets. They show where a shirt comes from and let you check its history.

What is physical evidence?

Physical evidence is the paperwork and the physical items that travel with a shirt and record where it came from: certificates of authenticity, auction house records, and the manufacturer's original tags and booklets.

Types of physical evidence

  1. Certificates of Authenticity (COA): a signed document from the authenticator or seller that names the item and carries a unique reference you can check against the issuer's own records.
  2. Auction house documentation: when a shirt is bought at auction, the paperwork often records its history, previous owners and any unique details, giving a clear chain of custody.
  3. Manufacturer tags and booklets: original tags or booklets from the manufacturer help show that a shirt is genuine and unaltered, and often give production and care details.

Why physical evidence matters

  • Authenticity: it is tangible proof that a shirt is genuine.
  • Provenance: it documents a shirt's history, which matters most when the shirt was worn by a notable player or in a significant match.

Evaluating physical evidence

When assessing physical evidence, check the following:

  • Source credibility: the documentation comes from a recognised name in football memorabilia.
  • Detail: it names the player, the match where relevant, and any unique identifiers.
  • Consistency: what the paperwork says matches what is known about the shirt and its history.

Keeping it with the shirt

Physical evidence helps you authenticate a football shirt and decide with confidence. Ask for it, keep it with the shirt, and check it against the issuer wherever you can.