The idea of a half-and-half scarf was the work of an evil genius, allowing unofficial vendors to essentially sell counterfeit goods to both sets of fans at big football matches.
They were originally more common in European competitions (where they symbolise the unique, cross-league nature of the fixture), but they’ve become ubiquitous in Premier League matches since the league’s commercialisation in the 1990s.
Again, they’re not official club merchandise—clubs like Liverpool or Manchester United sell single-team scarves—but they’re produced by independent sellers who avoid direct trademark infringement by slightly altering designs (e.g., off-kilter wording or generic motifs).
Prices usually range from £5-£15, making them an affordable memento for fans, tourists, and neutral spectators.
West Ham is making a stand against the fake merchandisers
Now, West Ham United have said that enough is enough. The club has issued a statement demanding that fans be more ordinarily identifiable.
“West Ham United would like to make supporters aware that enhanced security measures will be in place for Saturday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur. This includes additional checks at turnstiles, restrictions on half-and-half scarves or items illustrating the colours/crests of both clubs and steps to ensure home areas remain for West Ham United fans only.
“We would like to kindly ask all supporters for patience when entering the stadium to allow our staff to perform these checks, especially during the busiest times in the 45 minutes ahead of kick-off.”
Badly made and lacking in authenticity
Not only are United right to crack down on this practice, to make policing match day less hectic for staff, but these pieces of merchandise are undermining the rivalry between sides, not to mention sanitising the game as part of the general corporate takeover of football.
A far cry from their European origins, they are often described as cheap and poorly made, and they’re mocked for appearing in “random league fixtures” rather than epic finals.