Lord Triesman fans’ backlash and regulation
The Mail on Sunday billed Melissa Jacobs — who claims to be the ex-lover of now resigned chair of the Football Association, Lord Triesman — as the ‘woman who could cost England the 2018 World Cup’, but readers and football fans quickly turned on the sensation seeking tabloid. And others claim the cause of press freedom has been delivered yet another blow.
Despite providing an excuse to write about ‘a flame-haired 37-year-old with an impressive academic background… slim physique and ivory skin’, this was a silly story to run. It all came down to a hurt woman recording a private conversation in which Triesman revealed his suspicions that the Russians and Spanish 2018 World Cup bids may be corrupt.
His punishment for the unsubstantiated allegations was resignation, leaving the England bid in crisis. Gary Lineker stomped off to the Independent in disgust, not at Triesman, but the Mail on Sunday.
A rapid consensus emerged that it was against the national interest to publish. But what really turned the tide against the MoS, was the ability of football fans and others to leave comments on its website, blog and Tweet to show that they would not support the media narrative.
The media can no longer pretend its readers are blank canvasses onto which views and opinions may be projected. No doubt people have always retained the ability to think for themselves, but now they have the ability to quickly organise an effective backlash when the tabloids go too far.
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