Everyone thought it was piss funny when Sky Sports read out fake facts about Lincoln Red Imps after their historic win over Celtic.
Everyone that is except the Gibraltar club themselves.
Sky presenter Mike Wedderburn reeled off some hardly-plausible-sounding ‘facts’ about the European minnows which appear to have been gleaned from the infamous WeahsCousin Twitter account.
Wedderburn obviously wanted to set the scene for how much of a shock the 1-0 defeat in Brendan Rodgers’ first game was.
“Apparently, Celtic’s opponents play on average to a crowd of around 28 and they don’t have access to their pitch on Tuesday because it’s used by the local metal detecting society,” Wedderburn said.
@WeahsCousin pic.twitter.com/sPDquFZygQ
— Chris O’Donnell (@ChrisOD400) July 13, 2016
They’re so ridiculous that we’re amazed that they made it onto a major sports TV channel without being checked, just to make sure they were accurate.
While it gave everyone a laugh, and certainly reminded us all that you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet, the Imps certainly didn’t see the funny side of it as it tainted a historic night for the club.
They released a short statement on Twitter saying the ‘damaging and defamatory’ footage was being reviewed by the board.
Lincoln Red Imps Board are reviewing the very damaging and defamatory reporting made last night on a TV channel.
— Lincoln Red Imps FC (@LincolnRedImps) July 13, 2016
Sky Sports did make an apology and rectified the duff information that had been broadcast. But it looks like the Gibraltar club’s board may be looking to take legal action.
Sky Sports News reported a fake statistic, now Lincoln Red Imps are threatening to sue. Shit's getting weird. pic.twitter.com/zTJVQrSHGq
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) July 13, 2016
Some fans were pretty clear on which line the Red Imps should take…
Hope you take action, it's a disgusting way to treat your club, they should have asked you guys for facts. #LazyJournalism
— Donald Campbell 🇺🇦 (@UncleDon1874) July 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/johnbur46603771/status/753238459645620224
@CasciaroLee Good on you. The TV channel in question ought to be utterly ashamed of themselves.
— Jane McK-J 🐶🐱 (@janeymac64) July 13, 2016
@jessjewlry Sue them. We have had enough of defamatory comments against Gibraltar and the Gibraltarians.
— Brian Cardona (@manugib) July 13, 2016
It’s not the first time people have been duped by the WeahsCousin account, which makes reference to Ali Dia who seemingly hoodwinked Southampton boss Graeme Souness into signing him by claiming he was Weah’s cousin.
‘Quotes’ from the likes of former Valencia boss Gary Neville and Newcastle player Jack Colback reeled people in, as did his fake Harry Kane quote after the Euros which hooked Jeremy Vine.
JOE had an illuminating chat with the man behind the spoof account to find out his motivations and his greatest work.
