Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Karnataka Chief Minister mistreated the state football team who recently won the Santosh Trophy.
Fact
Video calling out footballers’ mistreatment by former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai shared out of context.
A video of a man narrating the ordeals of the Karnataka state football team, who were allegedly made to wait on a footpath to meet the Chief Minister after winning the Santosh Trophy, has been widely shared on social media platforms. The 45-second-long-footage shows the team sitting on a footpath along with the trophy. Some users also shared a longer version of the clip carrying snippets from their winning moments as well.
Multiple social media users shared the video, claiming, “Karnataka State Football Team recently won Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia & this is how these players were treated by the CM.” The caption insinuates that the incumbent Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah was behind this alleged “mistreatment” of the winning football team.
Such tweets can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: No, This Is Not A Video Of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Dancing Drunk
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Karnataka CM,” “Santosh Trophy” and “Footpath” on Google led us to a report by IB Times, dated March 18, 2023. The report detailed the indifference of the former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai towards “sports and sporting events” as he met the Santosh Trophy winners at a footpath outside his residence. Adding, “As per some ground reports, highlighting the unbecoming attitude of the CM, the champion team was given a time slot of 15 minutes, during which they stood outside the CM’s house for more than an hour.”
An article published in Kannada Asianet News on March 18 , 2023, also mentioned the footpath photo-op of the then-Karnataka CM with the Santosh Trophy winner.
Karnataka lifted the Santosh Trophy in March this year after a wait of 54 years, while Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the Chief Minister in May.
We also came across a YouTube video by channel ‘PANCHJANYA Information’, dated March 16, 2023, showing Basavaraja Bommai congratulating the Karnataka team on Santosh Trophy win.
Also Read: Video Of Shivakumar Ripping Textbook During 2022 Protest Falsely Linked To Karnataka Polls Aftermath
The former Karnataka CM and BJP leader had tweeted two photographs of himself with the winning team on March 16, 2023, with the caption, “I congratulated the football team players and wished them well for the Karnataka team who won the Santosh Trophy in the 76th National Football Tournament today. (translated from Kannada)”
We did not come across any recent reports indicating that Siddaramaiah had met the Karnataka team that won the Santosh Trophy after taking charge as the Chief Minister.
Furthermore, we found that the viral video was recently uploaded on a YouTube channel called Dhanraj Dhurve Extras with the title “Don’t insult footballers #indianfootball”
Newschecker reached out to Dhruve who confirmed that the incident was not recent, and was in fact from March. He clarified, “I just spoke (of) it for awareness that players are not getting good treatment and people are fighting over BJP-Congress now”.
“This incident was in March when Karnataka team won Santosh trophy in Saudi Arabia and BJP CM (Basavaraj Bommai) had invited the team to his house,” he further added.
Also Read: Karnataka Congress MLA ‘Dictating Terms’ To Police? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Video
Conclusion
Video of a man calling out the mistreatment of the Karnataka State Football team who won the Santosh Trophy by the former Chief Minister, Basavaraj Bommai has been shared out of context.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Report By IB Times, Dated March 18, 2023
Tweet By @BSBommai, Dated March 16, 2023
Correspondence With Dhanraj Dhurve On June 12, 2023
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
