The FAI have this evening distanced themselves from a doctored image of a tweet purporting to be from the Association regarding the retirement of Thierry Henry. The image which seems to have been first posted from a Twitter user called ITK Agent Didíer was photoshopped to be appear as if the FAI had sent a message wishing Henry a happy retirement before going on to refer to him using a racial slur.
Initially the FAI replied to posts individually saying that it was a doctored image and they had no part in it. Eventually they then tweeted this blanket denial.
Really uncool of someone to doctor an image to pretend that a hate message came from our account today http://t.co/vry6sxuJiU #SayNoToRacism
— FAI (@FAIreland) December 16, 2014
Although we can all agree with the sentiment of that, and we haven't embedded the original tweet so as not to give anymore attention to it than necessary, the wording of the FAI's denial has been picked apart more than the actual incident.
“@FAIreland: Really uncool of someone to doctor an image to pretend that a hate message came from our account today Really uncool bruh — Pedro Murphy (@murphy_pe) December 16, 2014
“@FAIreland: Really uncool of someone to doctor an image to pretend that a hate message came from our account today " C'mon guys so uncool
— Sam Foley (@SamFoleyLFC) December 16, 2014
Really uncool, guys. That is, like, most heinous. — Dave Donnelly (@YeSecondPost) December 16, 2014
Really uncool. Really, really uncool
— Dodge (@seidodge) December 16, 2014
Might see #uncool trending by the end of the night. — Barry Masterson (@BarryMasterson) December 16, 2014
On a serious note: the FAI have substantially multiplied the amount of people who will see an obviously fake tweet by publicising it. Uncool
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) December 16, 2014