Fanatics Accused of Rigging Breaks: The Scandal Rocking the UK

The Hobby Box UK has accused Fanatics employees of rigging box breaks and funneling high-value cards to specific dealers.

The most explosive claim?

A Fanatics employee allegedly told multiple breakers at the May 2025 London Card Show that he knew exactly who would pull a 1/1 Cristiano Ronaldo autograph—because the card was sitting in his hotel room.

The Hobby Box UK claims to have purchased video footage capturing this conversation.

At the London show, the Ronaldo box went to a well known UK breaker.

Later in the summer at The National in the USA, the same breaker allegedly confirmed the Fanatics employee gave him the box with the 1/1.

He's posted details of the situation on Instagram and allegations of other shady behavior by specific Fanatics employees.

Matt Smith, who at the time was the Hobby Business Manager for Breakers for Fanatics, is the one accused of holding the Ronaldo box in his hotel. 

Other 1/1 cards are alleged to have been funneled to well known UK breakers while Smith was employed.  

Smith left Fanatics in October 2025, just a few months after the London Card Show. 

He's now the Managing Director at Sports Cards Direct. 

Simon Rosenberg, the Retail Business Manager for the Fanatics store in Europe, is allegedly selling Topps cards on his personal eBay account.

The kicker?

One of the sets he was selling, all the cards were the same serial number.

91/99.

Seems odd.

Instead of investigating, Fanatics threatened legal action and demanded The Hobby Box UK "cease all communication with our employees, officers or directors."

The Hobby Box UK has indicated this is just the beginning—that more information, more "tea," is coming.

The community is watching in real-time as this unfolds.