Daily Mirror sports journalist David Anderson got caught out relying on open source encyclopaedia Wikipedia for a prematch football report, with false information about the fans of a Cypriot team making it both online and in the Daily Mirror.
Writing ahead of Manchester City’s UEFA Cup tie with Omonia Nicosia last week, Anderson used Wikipedia – on which anyone can post information on a subject – for background information on the team and their fans.
The following was posted on Wikipedia: ‘A small but loyal group of fans are lovingly called ‘The Zany Ones’- they like to wear hats made from discarded shoes and have a song about a little potato.”
Anderson reiterated the information in the Mirror, writing: ‘Whose fans are known as the ‘Zany Ones’ and wear hats made from shoes.”
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The offending information has since been removed from Wikipedia, with a note on who posted the misinformation and a reference Anderson’s use in its place.
Anderson said: “It’s a fair cop.”
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