AFL 2023: Channel 7 confirms viral Adelaide v Sydney game replay tweet is fake

Channel 7 has been caught up in another fake tweet saga, with the online account responsible for the Gryan Miers-Lionel Messi post striking again in the wake of the goal review controversy.

Channel 7 has been caught up in a fake social media post that claims Adelaide’s controversial loss to Sydney could be replayed.

The post emerged on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday morning and immediately spread, claiming that the Crows — who were denied a goal after there was no goal review conducted on a late Ben Keays kick that the goal umpire, who has been stood down, called as hitting the post — and Sydney “will be made to replay the final 71 seconds of their Round 23 match behind closed doors … during the pre-finals bye”.

But the network is adamant that the post is a fake.

The post included a graphic “explainer” which said teams would play at Adelaide Oval on September 1.

Swan Isaac Heeney after the final siren on Saturday night. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Teams will line up in 6-6-6 formation. No coin toss will be conducted,” it reads.

“Adelaide Crows will kick to the left of screen with Sydney Swans kicking to the right of screen.

“Countdown clock will commence at 1.11 with score line Adelaide Crows 11.12.78 to Sydney Swans 11.8.74.

“Ben Keays will be listed as a goalkicker for Adelaide Crows.”

It said that play would start with a centre bounce, time on would be added and that “any substitutions from the original fixture will stand”.

I TOOK A SCREENSHOT BEFORE THEY DELETED pic.twitter.com/lRdEvtj93I

— savmegafan (@savmegafan2) August 22, 2023

Both Channel 7 and the AFL confirmed that the post was a fake when contacted on Tuesday.

X user @savmegafan — who was also at the centre of sharing a recent fake post involving Fox Footy broadcaster Gerard Whateley — shared the post on Tuesday claiming “I TOOK A SCREENSHOT BEFORE THEY DELETED”.

The graphic mimics Channel 7 branding.

It is not the only recent case of a fake post for the network, with football journalist Mitch Cleary recently caught up in a similar issue involving an illegitimate post relating to Melbourne star Clayton Oliver that purported to be from the reporter’s account.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Channel 7 confirms viral Adelaide v Sydney game replay tweet is fake