Liverpool Football Club has been compelled to address disturbing false claims circulating online regarding the wellbeing of women's team manager Matt Beard.
The malicious rumour, which falsely claimed the respected coach had died, spread rapidly across social media platforms, causing widespread concern among fans and the football community.
In an official statement released by the club, Liverpool FC firmly denied the claims, stating: "We are aware of a false story circulating online regarding LFC Women manager Matt Beard. This story is completely untrue. Matt is safe and well, and focused on preparing the team for their upcoming fixtures."
BBC Confirms Investigation Into Hoax Origin
The BBC has acknowledged the situation and confirmed it's looking into how the false story emerged. A corporation spokesperson stated they're "aware of a hoax audio clip being shared online" and are "investigating how this content came to be circulated."
The audio clip in question appears to have been designed to mimic the style and tone of genuine BBC news reports, adding credibility to the completely fabricated story.
Football Community Rallies Behind Beard
Support for the Liverpool manager poured in from across the football world once the truth emerged. Colleagues, former players, and rival managers expressed their relief that Beard was safe and their condemnation of those responsible for spreading the harmful falsehood.
Matt Beard, who has managed Liverpool FC Women since 2021, leading them to promotion back to the Women's Super League in his first season, is understood to be continuing his work as normal despite the distressing incident.
This isn't the first time high-profile football figures have been targeted by death hoaxes online, with several other managers and players falling victim to similar malicious campaigns in recent years.
Social Media Platforms Under Scrutiny
The rapid spread of the false information has raised further questions about content moderation on social media platforms. Many are calling for stronger measures to prevent the circulation of such harmful misinformation, particularly when it involves individuals' wellbeing.
Liverpool FC has urged supporters to rely only on official club channels for accurate information regarding staff and players.
