 England replica kits are popular among young and old fans |
Shops selling England football kits have been accused of overcharging for child sizes by a consumer magazine. While adult shirts and matching shorts cost about �32, children's retail at �26, Which? research suggested.
The magazine's editor Neil Fowler accused shops of "taking advantage of consumers, and parents in particular".
But the British Retail Consortium said manufacturing costs were not affected by clothing size, so it was not a surprise shops charged similar prices.
Neither the Football Association nor kit-maker Umbro set prices for the products, allowing retailers to set their own rates.
No VAT
Which? found that size XXXL shirts and shorts "big enough to fit a 20-stone man" were being sold for only a few pounds more than children's sizes.
Mr Fowler pointed out that there was no VAT on children's clothes, reducing the difference in the real price even further.
But a spokesman for the retail consortium said there was no reason why children's clothes should necessarily be cheaper than adults'.
"The cost of a clothing item doesn't primarily derive from the amount of material that is in it," a BRC spokesman said.
"The main costs are labour and the cost of capital equipment at the manufacturing end, and labour and rent at the retail end."
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