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Sports is no longer just about passion and competition; it’s also a growing ground for misinformation. This week, we speak with Praise Cole, a DUBAWA fact-checker who has carved a niche in verifying sports-related claims. Cole walked us through the challenges, emerging trends like AI-driven fakes, and how critical thinking and data awareness can help fans separate fact from fiction.
What motivated you to specialise in fact-checking sports content?
It was simply to lean toward a speciality in fact-checking, more or less like choosing a genre. Every other fact checker at DUBAWA has a sector he or she concentrates on— health, tech, language, etc. I needed to pick a niche, so I chose sports.
What’s it like fact-checking sports-related information?
It is enlightening. Every now and then, I make sure I read a great deal of articles on sports, especially European sports, not just football but tennis. I even read rugby, too. Lol.
What does it look like? Fact-checking sport-related misinformation and how it is different from other topics?
Many times, I identify sports-related claims on TikTok. Either they have been edited to fit a particular narrative, or they are artificial intelligence-generated. On X and Facebook, they are usually just statements or assertions worthy of verification.
Noticeably, purveyors of untruthful sports claims take advantage of post-match activities whereby a player or coach is alleged to have made either slanderous, insulting or disparaging statements. Sometimes, they pick past interview sessions of coaches or players, alter them and allege they have made some unfounded comments. In terms of methods and application to fact-checking, there is not much difference. In cases where a claim is AI-influenced or generated, you simply use AI tools to verify as you would in politically related claims. Ditto data-related claims, you simply research.
Can you share an instance where debunking sports misinformation had a significant impact?
Yes, although I was not the author of the fact check. But back in 2022, there was a viral claim that PSG star Achraf Hakimi had divorced his wife, and the latter demanded half his properties. But she couldn’t get it because none of his properties were in his name, only his mother’s. People believed it, and it became viral. Up till today, it is called “Hakimisionism.” But DUBAWA discovered that the story was not true. A parody account fabricated it before it was shared across other continents. The fact check won the African fact check awards in 2023.
What measures can sports organisations, media outlets, and fans take to reduce the spread of misinformation?
They need to be data-conscious or statistics-conscious. Sports are infused with sentiments that can generate false information, so people must consciously consult data whenever they share their opinions on sports.
What advancements or trends do you predict in the field of fact-checking for sports misinformation?
Predictably AI-influenced claims. In the last few weeks, I have fact-checked sports claims on AI that the public actually believes are true despite the red flags or indications that the post is inauthentic. So, there is every possibility that those who spread fake sports news would begin to explore AI features to manipulate sports data to sway people to believe them. Yes, that is likely the trend.
