Credit: FC Barcelona
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CLAIM: A viral Facebook post claims that a Sierra Leonean footballer named Cripsin Kamara, said to be from Baggage Academy, has secured a straight signing with FC Barcelona in Spain. The post includes a photo of the alleged player signing a contract inside an aeroplane.
VERDICT: False. Not supported by any credible evidence, the image is AI-generated and distorted, and no such football transfer exists.
FULL TEXT
A Facebook blog named Fassay Blog Online TV Show shared a post celebrating what they described as a significant achievement for Sierra Leone. According to the post, a young Sierra Leonean footballer, Cripsin Kamara, has secured a direct transfer to FC Barcelona. The post included emojis, congratulatory messages, and a photo of three men in suits, appearing to sign a document inside a private jet. The post further claimed the footballer was previously playing for Baggage Academy in Sierra Leone.
The image quickly gained attention, with many congratulating the young man. Others expressed doubts about the picture’s authenticity and the claim. Because of its rapid spread and potential to mislead the public, DUBAWA investigated the claim.
VERIFICATION
DUBAWA conducted multiple Google searches using variations of the name Cripsin Kamara, Crispin Kamara, and Cripsin Sierra Leone footballer. The search returned no results, no profiles, and no football records of any Sierra Leonean player by that name. No article, interview, club announcement, or official listing exists.
DUBAWA checked all official FC Barcelona communication platforms, including the club’s website page. There is no announcement of any signing involving a Sierra Leonean player with this name.
In European football, club transfers, especially by a club as big as Barcelona, are publicly announced and widely reported. None of the trusted football news outlets (Fabrizio Romano, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, or the official La Liga platform) carried any such story.
Another red flag is timing. Football transfers follow strict international schedules. The European transfer window is currently closed, meaning no club can sign a new player unless the player is a free agent under infrequent circumstances. A straight signing on an aeroplane is practically impossible.
Clubs do not conduct official signings inside aeroplanes, especially for highly regulated international transfers.
DUBAWA tested the circulating image using an AI-image detection tool. Results showed over 98% likelihood that the image is AI-generated or AI-manipulated. Visual distortions can also be observed in: the hands of the men, the edges of the document, unnatural lighting and facial blending.
A Sierra Leonean signing for FC Barcelona would be national news in Sierra Leone. It would trend across: Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) pages, sports journalists’ platforms, national newspapers and blogs, and football fan communities. DUBAWA found no coverage from any Sierra Leonean or international sports media.
CONCLUSION
The claim that a Sierra Leonean named Cripsin Kamara has signed for FC Barcelona is misleading. There is no evidence to support the claim that the player exists, no record of such a transfer, and the image used to substantiate the claim is AI-generated and distorted.
