Debunking the Liverpool FC Conspiracy Theory

More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC

Business, Mathematics, Science, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2022

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

Ahead of the opening of the new season of the English Premier League, baseless rumours and dodgy statistics circulating online have implied that Liverpool FC use asthma medication to enhance their players’ performance. Ben Carter speaks to sports scientist Professor John Dickinson to examine the science that disproves these rumour, and tracks down its original source with the help of Mike Wendling from the World Service's Trending programme. Presenter: Ben Carter Producer: Richard Vadon

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to More or Less.
0:05.2	This week, the biggest, richest and most talks about football league in the world
0:09.6	is back in business with the opening of the new season of the English Premier League.
0:14.7	And given the world we live in, a lot of the talking about the Premier League takes place on social media.
0:20.5	So today, we're going to be looking at a conspiracy theory that's been spreading wildly on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
0:27.4	Well, well, well, the Liverpool conspiracy continues.
0:32.2	There has been some controversy following reports that an abnormal amount of Liverpool FC players are allegedly asthmatic.
0:38.2	How much of the UK do you think has asthma in percentage?
0:42.0	I have no idea.
0:42.8	Nine.
0:43.4	It's close. It's 12%.
0:44.7	OK.
0:45.2	What do you think the percentage of the Liverpool FC squad have asthma?
0:48.9	25%.
0:50.0	That's very high.
0:50.8	It's very high.
0:51.4	But it's 63% of the Liverpool squad have asthma.
0:54.9	Really?
0:55.4	22 out of the 35 man squad have asthma.
0:59.4	This is basically an accusation that Liverpool are cheating.
1:02.6	And let's say right away that we think there's no truth in it.
1:06.7	But the science and story behind the spread of this misinformation is really interesting.
	...

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