Man City, Foden asks for lawyer before fake news attacks family

Phil Foden and Rebecca Cooke have asked a team of legal experts to intervene after a series of fake social media posts claimed their eldest son had died and their daughter had cancer. Manchester City expressed shock and affirmed their continued full support for the England midfielder.

Fake news about Phil Foden's family spread from Facebook

According to the source, the false content started on Facebook with a post claiming that Foden’s eldest son, Ronnie, 6, had passed away. More recently, the account “Man City Fan Lover” posted information that his daughter, True, 4, had cancer – with an AI-customized image showing Foden and Rebecca Cooke crying together.

Foden – a father of three – has enlisted the help of a team of legal experts to remove the fabricated posts and fake images that have appeared on multiple platforms.

Reaction from Rebecca Cooke

Rebecca Cooke took to Instagram to confirm:“We are aware of the pages and accounts that are spreading these stories. They are completely false and very disturbing… I don’t understand how people can make up stories about anyone, especially children. It’s absolutely appalling.”

Previously, Foden and Rebecca Cooke often shared happy pictures on social networks and received admiration from fans.

Legal team involved, Manchester City supports

The widespread circulation of fake posts and images has led to Phil Foden’s name trending on social media and Google, forcing Foden and Cooke to seek legal help to protect their privacy and family reputation.

Legal experts say social media platforms can remove posts, but identifying and prosecuting the authors of fabricated stories has a major impact on personal privacy and can lead to legal consequences.

Manchester City quickly expressed their support for the player: they said they were shocked and horrified by the targeting of Foden's family, and would continue to support him fully.

Impact and message

Phil Foden – one of the Premier League’s top stars – is facing a legal battle off the pitch as fake news targeting his children spreads. The move by Foden and his family to seek legal advice to stop the false posts is not only to protect their privacy but also to send a clear message:“No one should be allowed to use the family of a celebrity to spread fake news.”