False Reporting: Weaponising Information and Undermining Trust in Sport

Kim Barker ()
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Kim Barker: University of Lincoln, Lincoln Law School

Chapter 5 in Combating Online Abuse in Sports, 2026, pp 91-111 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract False Reporting represents a growing challenge within sport, involving the deliberate submission of falsified complaints or allegations intended to harm reputations, destabilise athletes, or disrupt sporting organisations. False Reporting can be weaponised, particularly during high-stakes competitions or against athletes who attract controversy. A central issue lies in distinguishing legitimate complaints from falsified ones, a task complicated by the volume and speed of communication on digital platforms, where false reports can quickly gain traction and amplify harm. The consequences extend beyond individual reputational damage, as false reports may undermine trust in safeguarding and disciplinary processes, divert resources from genuine cases, and destabilise public confidence in sport governance. By outlining both the scale and nature of the problem, and an overview of potential risks and safeguards, this chapter explores our understanding of False Reporting, before highlighting the need for response mechanisms that protect athletes and maintain the integrity of sport in the face of increasingly sophisticated tactics.

Keywords: False Reporting; Fabricated reports; SWATing; Online Abuse; Malicious reporting; Misinformation; Harm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-17822-0_5

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-17822-0_5

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