Post-truth in the media: Fake news in sports

Abstract

In recent years, fake news has become a worldwide phenomenon that affects practically every sector, including sport. Usually when we think of fake news, we immediately associate it with politics, but this concept encompasses a wide range of false or manipulative information, created with the purpose of misleading, disinforming people. In the sports industry, the spread of fake news has significant repercussions, from damage to athletes and people involved in the world of sport to the respective organisations. Sport, especially football, stands out as a
favourable area for the spread of fake news, as it has fans who are passionate about the teams, great rivalries and huge financial interests make this universe vulnerable to manipulated information, such as fake news like transfer rumours, athletes' personal scandals, fabricated scandals or even accusations of corruption between clubs. Social networks are the main way in which fake news spreads, where it has a huge reach in a shortspace of time, making it difficult for journalists 8 and fans to distinguish between real and fake news.