Forty counterfeit Foo Fighters t-shirts were seized outside Anfield stadium during the band's two sold-out concerts on June 25 and 27, as Liverpool Council licensing officers and Merseyside Police cracked down on illegal street traders.
Operation targets illegal traders
The joint operation targeted traders without proper authorization from Liverpool Council. In a social media post, the licensing team said they worked with police to 'tackle illegal street trading causing disorder around the stadium.' A number of counterfeit items were seized across both nights, with enforcement activity continuing throughout the evenings.
Enforcement officers are routinely deployed at major events to handle issues related to licensed vehicles, licensed premises, and both authorized and unauthorized street trading. Liverpool strictly regulates street trading, designating all streets as either licence streets or consent streets, which require written permission from the local authority. Anyone selling goods on these streets or within 10 metres of them without consent can be prosecuted or have their goods seized. A one-day consent to trade costs £68.
Band's historic Anfield shows
The Foo Fighters performed two three-hour shows at Anfield for the first time, marking their debut at Liverpool FC's home ground. Frontman Dave Grohl praised the city, saying 'Liverpool is f***ing awesome,' while guitarist Chris Shiflett expressed interest in sightseeing. Grohl had previously joined Sir Paul McCartney on stage at Anfield in 2008 during Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture.
The concerts took place during record-breaking UK temperatures and included fan encounters on stage, leaving a lasting impression on both fans and performers.
Counterfeit goods a persistent issue
Fake goods are not new to Liverpool. In 2024, an inspection of five stores in St Johns resulted in the seizure of 280 counterfeit clothing items, including fake versions of White Fox, Prada, and Diesel. Though sold at bargain prices, the haul would have been worth approximately £25,000 if genuine. More recently, counterfeit Labubu dolls were found in a Wavertree shop's stockroom, raising safety concerns.
The Liverpool Echo contacted Merseyside Police for comment on the Foo Fighters operation but had not received a response at the time of publication.
