Hey gang, I don’t want this to become the Official DFL Hoax Blog, but I realize I should underline why this story is important. We still don’t know enough to reach any conclusions, and we need to be very careful to underline all the possibilities and permutations until the facts come in.
Whatever the outcome, this story should not be buried. None of the major papers seem to be including some recent details. Fair enough; they’re all pretty inconclusive on their own right. But it does involve the credibility of a major UK newspaper, the reputation of an established journalist, and the viability of unnamed sources. This doesn’t have to be some sort of journalistic “lesson,” but maybe a warning for those getting information that sometimes seems to good to be true.
My own hunch (and it’s just a hunch): I think someone’s been had in a big, big way. I’m also waiting for comment from at least one major Premier League club to confirm whether they were in fact approached by the Times to comment on this story.
In any case, my biggest fear is that the Times and others will let this story sit and then pretend like it never happened until the next “big rumour” comes out only to be denied and then never come to fruition.
The more I learn the more I have reason to believe that this was not simply an honest mistake. Someone isn’t telling the truth here. We need to find out who.
Well, first, “Les Cahiers du football” are not in cause. Jérôme Latta is just a simple paper-writer, typing his bills on his computer with some beers nearby. Most of the contributers are free-workers, spending time after work (or even during work), compiling funny stuff. The references are some foreign websites and magazine such as “When Saturday comes”. I can certify once you see him (maybe you should plan a meeting with him), you cannot imagine Jérôme as manipulated by qatari or whatsoever. “Les Cahiers du football” do not present the same aims than “Canard Enchaîné” or “Mediapart” at raising true scandals, but sometimes (as they are not writing only bullshits) at some reflexions once these scandals pop up. I am quite confident the truth is on their side. And I don’t trust Times… but I understand them. So many scandals popped up thanks to British reporters (upon corruptions in FIFA especially) that probably Oliver Kay thought this would be his moment of glory. He has mistaken due to a stupid source, exactly as Gerd Heidemann from Stern has failed 30 years ago because of a scammer (Konrad Kujau) who has sold him the fake Hitler’s diaries. I wouldn’t find it more stupid than 30 years after, a ‘Kujau’ as Rob Beal has entirely built a wrong accusations based upon Jérôme’s joke, and that Oliver Kay has fallen in the trick. It is now up to Kay to find a way to issue this story better than Heidemann did… (the good receipt in both cases is: a great reputed newspaper, a talented scammer as Rob Beal (I am the only finding out it sounds as “rober”?)… and a reporter whose blindness is unfortunately proportional to his self-confidence).
Unfortunately, I think this whole story will end as you say : It will be buried. OK wil stay under the radar for a few days, and thanks to the heavy corporatism of traditional press, he won’t be bothered.