Which sports fans are the most likely to be affected by misinformation
Fake news and speculation have become an unavoidable part of sports fandom, shaping how fans perceive their favourite teams and athletes. But who is most likely to fall for these rumours?
From transfer gossip to scandalous headlines, we explore how fake news thrives in sports and why some fan bases, teams and sports personalities are more vulnerable than others.
Key findings:
- Football fans are the most affected by misinformation: 70% admit to believing false rumours, the highest among all sports.
- American football fans are the most exposed:50% encounter rumours daily, while 36% report encountering them weekly.
- Fans spreading rumours: 33% of sports fans admit to sharing false rumours, with the figure rising to 41% among American football fans.
- Most gossiped-about teams:
- Football: Manchester United is the most gossiped-about team, with over half of respondents encountering rumours about the team.
- American football: Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots lead the rumour mill.
- Rugby: The England Rugby Team and Wales Rugby Team attract the most attention.
- Most gossiped-about personalities: Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list, followed by Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Tom Brady, and Jonny Wilkinson.
- Top platforms for rumours: Twitter and mainstream media are the top sources, with 42% of fans encountering rumours most frequently on these platforms.
- Most believable fake stories: Injury or health updates (43%), transfer rumours (33%), and team conflicts (29%) rank highest in believability.
Football and tennis fans are the most affected by misinformation among sports fans
Sports fans are passionate, loyal, and deeply invested—but they’re not always immune to believing a good rumour. Our recent survey has revealed just how frequently fans across different sports fall for misinformation about their favourite teams and athletes.
Leading the pack, 70% of football fans admit to believing rumours that later turned out to be false, followed by 59% of American football fans. Meanwhile, tennis fans proved to be the most sceptical, with only 34% admitting to falling for misinformation.
These findings highlight how certain sports and their fans are more exposed to speculation and fake news, often shaped by the type and volume of media coverage they consume.
Let’s dive into the details to find out what makes some fan bases more affected by misinformation than others.
American Football fans are the most exposed to rumours with 50% encountering them daily
Speculation and rumours about athletes and teams are a regular part of the experience for sports fans, with 77% encountering them weekly or daily. However, the frequency varies significantly between sports.
- American football fans lead the way, with an astounding 50% encountering rumours daily and another 36% weekly.
- Football fans aren’t far behind, with 40% encountering rumours daily and 46% weekly, fuelled by the 24/7 chatter around transfers and scandals.
- Even cricket fans experience their fair share, with 29% encountering rumours daily and 40% weekly.
In contrast, rugby and tennis fans enjoy a calmer environment, with the majority — 52% of rugby fans and 60% of tennis fans — reporting they only encounter rumours monthly or rarely. These results reflect the more subdued media coverage and lower levels of sensationalism associated with these sports.
But rumours don’t just spread themselves—fans play a crucial role in keeping the gossip alive.
While most sports fans claim they steer clear of sharing unverified stories, a surprising 33% admit to passing on rumours about their favourite athletes or teams that turned out to be false. Among American football fans? The number jumps to 41%.
Most gossipped-about sports teams
High-profile teams often find themselves at the centre of the rumour mill, and for good reason. More than half of respondents said they’ve encountered rumours about Manchester United, making it the most gossiped-about team in football.
Other Premier League powerhouses such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea aren’t far behind, reflecting the intense scrutiny faced by top-tier clubs with global fan bases.
In American football, iconic teams like the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots dominate the rumour landscape. Their massive followings and high-stakes performances make them magnets for speculation, whether it’s about player trades, coaching changes, or off-field controversies.
When it comes to rugby teams, the England Rugby Team and Wales Rugby Team attract the most attention.
Most gossiped-about sports personalities
Some sports personalities seem to be permanent fixtures in the headlines. Cristiano Ronaldo, with his global fame and polarising presence, tops the list as the most gossiped-about personality, with nearly half of respondents admitting they’ve encountered rumours about him.
He’s closely followed by Lionel Messi, the other half of football’s greatest rivalry. Closer to home, England stars like Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Jude Bellingham are also frequent targets, reflecting the intense spotlight on Premier League players.
Outside football, Tom Brady dominates speculation in American football, proving his enduring star power even as retirement looms. In rugby, legends like Jonny Wilkinson and current stars such as Owen Farrell attract attention, particularly during major tournaments.
The platforms where fake news thrives
In today’s hyperconnected world, social media and online platforms have become the breeding ground for sports speculation and rumours. From viral transfer gossip to fabricated scandals, fans encounter misinformation everywhere, and some platforms play a much bigger role than others.
Twitter and general media are the top sources, with 42% of fans reporting that they encounter sports rumours most frequently on these platforms. Twitter’s fast-paced, real-time nature makes it the perfect environment for speculation to flourish, while traditional media still significantly contributes to the spread of unverified stories under the guise of “breaking news.”
Close behind are YouTube (31%) and sports news websites (39%), which are common hubs for sensationalised headlines and clickbait content, often driving speculation to maximise engagement.
Instagram (27%) and TikTok (23%) are also key players. Meanwhile, Reddit (9%) remains a niche space, more focused on in-depth discussions rather than fuelling rumours.
Even personal networks aren’t immune, with 23% of fans reporting that they encounter rumours through friends or family. This shows that fake news doesn’t just spread online but it can also travel through word-of-mouth.
However, trust in these platforms paints a very different picture.
When asked how likely they are to believe unverified rumours from various sources, fans ranked friends and family and sports news websites highest in credibility, whereas platforms like TikTok, Twitter, Instagram or Reddit scored far lower, suggesting that while these platforms expose fans to the most rumours, they’re taken with a grain of salt.
Most believable types of fake stories
Not all rumours are equal when it comes to believability. Our data shows that injury or health updates are the stories fans are most likely to believe, with 43% of respondents rating them as highly believable. These stories often carry an air of urgency, lending them false credibility.
Transfer rumours follow closely, with 33% of fans admitting they’d likely believe these kinds of stories.
Other types of fake stories, such as team conflicts or disputes (29%) and personal scandals (26%), also rank high in believability. The emotional nature of these narratives, often tied to fan biases about athletes and teams, makes them particularly compelling.
Performance-enhancing drug allegations (27%) sit near the bottom of the list. While serious, these stories are treated with a bit more scepticism, likely due to the gravity of such accusations and the scrutiny that often follows.
How rumours influence fans’ opinions
Despite the prevalence of fake news in sports, most fans stand firm in their support. When asked if they’ve ever changed their opinion about an athlete or team after reading a rumour that turned out to be false, the majority (53%) said they don’t let rumours affect their support.
However, a significant portion of fans admitted to being influenced by misinformation. 32% admitted to initially changing their opinion but later regaining trust in the athlete or team. Meanwhile, 16% of fans admitted that rumours had a lasting impact, permanently changing how they felt about an athlete or team.
To avoid falling for misinformation, fans should check if a story comes from a trusted source, cross-reference with official team or athlete accounts, and be wary of sensational headlines. Taking a moment to fact-check before sharing can help stop the spread of fake news and keep sports discussions more accurate.
The spread of misinformation highlights the importance of relying on trusted sources.
At Svindel.info, we dedicate ourselves to being exactly that—offering readers reliable, fact-checked information to help them make informed decisions. Our mission is to guide our audience through the complex world of online gaming by providing honest recommendations, thorough analyses, and security checks.
Just as sports fans need credible information to shape their views, we ensure online gaming enthusiasts have the knowledge they need to navigate platforms safely and confidently. Transparency and trust are at the core of what we do, helping our readers stay informed and make choices they can rely on.
Methodology
We at Svindel.info conducted a survey in November 2024 to examine how susceptible sports fans are to misinformation and rumours about their favourite teams, athletes, and sports. By analysing the frequency and believability of different types of rumours and identifying the sports, teams, and personalities most affected, we aimed to uncover patterns in fan vulnerability to misinformation and its role in shaping sports fandom.