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PeakMetrics / Fact Checks

Sports fact checks

Explore claims publishers have checked about sports. Read their original ratings and follow the evidence.

1,766 published reviews in this topic

Factcrescendo Sri LankaSports

Images Of Stadium 974 Being Dismantled !! (IMAGES)

Publisher’s rating: Misleading

The review examined social-media posts presenting photographs as scenes of Stadium 974 being dismantled after the stadium’s final World Cup match. It reports that the Brazil–South Korea Round of 16 match took place on 5 December and that the images spread after Stadium 974 had been announced as due to be removed. The review’s conclusion was that the photographs were real images of the stadium, but not images of its dismantling. [S1: “The FIFA 2022 Round 16 match between Brazil & South Korea, held on 5th December, was announced as the final game of the much talked about Stadium 974.”; “The viral photos actually portray scenes of the construction of Stadium 974.”] To check the images’ provenance, the team says it searched international media coverage and performed a reverse-image search. It found the photographs in material showing Stadium 974 under construction in Ras Abu Aboud, Qatar, and also found an earlier collection of construction images. The review further says that a Twitter message posted in October supported the construction-phase identification. [S1: “We first checked international media streams and didn’t come across any reports of Stadium 974 being dismantled. Also, we did a reverse image search on the image used in the viral posts.”; “We found that the pictures were taken during the construction of Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud, Qatar.”; “Since this Twitter message was posted in October this year, it confirms that the photos showing the removal of STADIUM 974 were photos taken during its construction.”] The review distinguishes the photographs’ misleading presentation from the stadium’s planned temporary status: Stadium 974 was expected to be decommissioned, but the review reports that removal had not begun at the time. It cites a journalist’s visit on 15 December showing the stadium still standing, as well as a fashion show held there on 16 December. Thus, the evidence supports the specific finding that the viral photographs were from construction, not dismantling; it does not dispute that decommissioning was expected later. [S1: “The stadium is temporary and can be dismantled and removed”; “A journalist who visited Stadium 974 on December 15th gave a clear view of the stadium and its current status, clearly showing that it had not yet been decommissioned.”; “a fashion show was held at STADIUM 974 on 16th December”]

FACTLYSports

Fans throwing eggs at the bus carrying the Brazilian Football team in Brazil following the team’s elimination from FIFA World Cup 2022

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The claim concerns a video said to show angry fans throwing eggs at the Brazilian national football team’s bus after Brazil was eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. FACTLY’s review says the video was not recorded after that elimination: it was filmed in Brazil in March 2018 and showed protestors attacking a bus they believed was part of former president Lula’s convoy. The review also says no incident of fans throwing eggs at the team was reported following its World Cup elimination. To check the video’s provenance, the review reports that it ran a reverse image search on keyframes from the viral clip. That search found the same video on YouTube, uploaded on 28 March 2018, with a title describing people in Paraná throwing eggs at a bus carrying Lula. The review further points to another recording of the incident made by a passenger inside the bus. The review places the attack on 26 March 2018 in Paraná and says Brazilian media described the protestors as mistaking the bus for part of Lula’s election-campaign convoy. This establishes that the footage predates the 2022 World Cup incident it was claimed to depict, and concerns a different event. The video therefore does not support the claim that fans attacked the Brazilian team’s bus after its elimination.

FACTLYSports

A photo of Cristiano Ronaldo supporting the Argentina football team with Lionel Messi’s photo a TV Screen behind him

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The claim concerns a photo circulated as showing Cristiano Ronaldo supporting Argentina, with Lionel Messi visible on a television behind him. FACTLY reports that the image was altered: the original photograph showed a stadium on the TV screen, not Messi. The review says a reverse image search led to a Sun article carrying the same photograph with the stadium visible, providing a comparison with the version shared in the post. [S1: “This article shared the same photograph as in the viral post, but a stadium can be seen on TV instead of Lionel Messi.”] The review then traced the photograph to Ronaldo’s Instagram, where it found the image uploaded on 15 October 2020. It reports that Ronaldo was quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 and had shared the photo in support of Portugal, which was playing Sweden in the Nations League—not Argentina. The post therefore changed the apparent TV content and recast the photo’s context as support for Argentina during the FIFA World Cup. [S1: “With this hint, we looked for the same image on his Instagram and found it uploaded on 15 October 2020.”] [S1: “Reportedly, he tested COVID-19 positive at that time and posted this picture in support of his team, who were playing against Sweden in the Nations League”]

FACTLYSports

BCCI imposed a fine of 7 crore rupees on Ishan Kishan for making comments against Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The claim concerned Ishan Kishan and alleged that, after India’s 10 December 2022 victory against Bangladesh, he criticized Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid for not giving young players opportunities, prompting BCCI to fine him ₹7 crore. FACTLY’s review says it found neither evidence of those remarks nor evidence of the fine. FACTLY describes searching for reports that Kishan had been penalised and says it found none confirming the claim. It then examined the post-match press conference video after the third ODI against Bangladesh on 10 December. In response to a question about staying motivated when opportunities were scarce, Kishan spoke positively about the preparation and approach of senior players, including Rohit Sharma. When asked about Dravid’s reaction to Kishan’s double-century, he said Dravid was happy for him and understood that the strong team could not give everyone chances. Those answers do not support the post’s account of Kishan accusing either man of denying him opportunities. FACTLY concludes that Kishan made no such remarks at the press conference and that BCCI did not penalise him ₹7 crore for statements against Sharma and Dravid. The review’s account of the video is the direct evidence it presents about what Kishan said; its search for confirming news reports is a separate check on the alleged fine.

FACTLYSports

Indian cricket player Sanju Samson is now going to lead the Ireland Cricket team

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The claim was that Indian cricketer Sanju Samson was about to lead or represent Ireland after an offer from the Ireland Cricket Board. FACTLY’s review says sports and mainstream news reports had circulated that an offer was made, and that those reports also said Samson declined because he wanted to represent India. The review does not establish that Samson himself publicly confirmed receiving or declining an offer: it says it could not find an announcement from either him or the board. The decisive evidence described is the board’s direct response to Factly’s email asking for clarification. The review quotes the Ireland Cricket Board as saying, “Complete rubbish. We have no idea where it came from,” and reports that the board denied making an offer. It also says some sports websites subsequently published clarifications that the reported offer was not made. On the evidence presented in the excerpt, the reports about an offer and Samson’s purported response are not confirmation that he was going to lead Ireland; the board’s denial directly contradicts the central claim.

LupaSports

“Eu jamais faria um vídeo filmando ostentação com coisas que faltam no meu país; como carne na mesa de muitos. Pois meu povo passa por uma crise econômica nunca antes vista no país. Eu ajudo meus pais financeiramente, dou comida e roupas aos pobres necessitados, tenho várias casas de que abrigam meu povo. Vim para o Qatar pra jogar bola, levar a taça para meu país com muita garra e raça. Não vim pra ostentar e deixar meu povo constrangido’ (Messi)”

Publisher’s rating: Falso