Qatari police announced they had seized no less than 144 replicas of the World Cup in their latest raid on fake merchandise in the Middle East country.Many football fans worldwide are boycotting the tournament in Qatar, citing poor human rights record, corruption and the fact that it’s not a recognized football nation. It’s perhaps symbolic that fake trophies have been found there. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6778848##The Ministry of Interior Affairs tweeted a surreal photo of the outlawed trophies that were supposed to be sold during the tournament later this month.Their officers launched an operation “acting on a piece of information about a website that promotes the sale of cups that mimic the true shape of the World Cup.” According to Qatari authorities, “further legal procedures will follow”.The ministry did not say where the trophies were found, nor whether suspects had been detained. Football’s governing body FIFA and Qatari authorities have stepped up warnings recently about distributing or buying World Cup fakes.##EDITORS_CHOICE##In June, Qatar warned drivers that it was illegal to have a World Cup logo on car number plates, after special plates were sold in online auctions. One month earlier, police arrested five people for selling counterfeit clothes with the World Cup logo.At the end of 2021, they raided a factory in the Gulf state producing perfume in bottles illegally using the World Cup brand.
