Transfer balls: Arsenal’s Wilshere rides to China on a human caterpillar of fake news
Transfer Balls is watching fake news: Working on the principle that no denial means it could be true, the Daily Star lead its sports season with news that Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is on his way to China. Maybe. Wilshere was playing on loan at Bournemouth until another injury – a leg fracture – ended his season.
The paper days that “if” talks with Arsenal do not go well for the former PFA Young Player of the Year (2010–11), he could be off to play in China.
Where in China, the paper does not say. It’s just China, a place where a young English blade looking for adventures can experience the thrill of the exotic and immerse himself in an ancient culture. Or just cash in as some local tycoon spunks loadsa cash on surplus English flesh. Jack is not looking to expand his horizons in the Far East, says the Star. Jack is “desperate”.
China is the British Press’s ‘f9’ – just hit the button and whichever player who like can be off to China. The Star’s story contains no word from Arsenal nor Wilshere but that doesn’t stop the other tabloids wading in.
The Express thunders: “ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere is open to a shock move to China, according to the reports.”
It knows this because – get this – the Express read the story in the Daily Star.
The Sun also read the Star’s fact-free news story and tells its readers: “FREE WILLY – Arsenal transfer news: Jack Wilshere open to Chinese Super League switch if crunch Arsene Wenger talks go badly this summer.”
No facts needed for the trusty news media to pass on the scoop untested. It’s a human caterpillar of football reporting.
Posted: 25th, April 2017 | In: Back pages, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
