Inside the £1-an-hour official football shirt factories

A BBC Sport investigation revealed that official football shirts for major clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Real Madrid, are produced in Cambodian factories where workers earn a basic wage under £1 per hour. Payslips from Bowker Garment Factory and Trax Apparel show basic monthly earnings of $210 to $220. Employees reported harsh working conditions, including indoor temperatures exceeding 35C, demanding quotas, and verbal abuse.

Adidas, which contracts both facilities as primary suppliers, stated that it conducts annual audits and ensures wages comply with legal and living-wage standards. The report highlights growing fan frustration over rising replica kit prices, which now often exceed £85.