Lincoln Red Imps vs Celtic: Sky Sports News fall for spoof facts about semi-professional Gibraltar club

A fake infographic shared widely on social media claimed that the club play to an average home gate of just 28

Lincoln Red Imps' home ground Victoria Stadium (Getty)

Sky Sports News appear to have fallen for a spoof graphic of made-up facts about Lincoln Red Imps, the Gibraltarian side who beat Celtic in the Champions League qualifying round on Tuesday.

The graphic, created by Twitter user GeorgeWeahsCousin, was designed in Sky’s own graphical style and made several extraordinary claims about the semi-professional club.

According to the mock-up, which was shared widely across social media, the Red Imps’ average home attendance is just 28 and they cannot train on Tuesdays as a local metal-detecting society use their pitch.

Both facts were repeated by Mike Wedderburn, the Sky Sports News presenter, during an interview looking back on Celtic’s embarrassing defeat.

Lincoln later confirmed via Twitter that the club's board would review the 'damaging and defamatory reporting made lsat night on a TV channel'.

It is unclear whether the investigation relates to Sky Sports News' reporting of the spoof graphic.

The second qualifying round first-leg tie was Brendan Rodgers’ first full game in charge since taking over at the club in May.

Lee Casciaro, who scored Gibraltar's first international goal against Scotland at Hampden Park in 2015, grabbed the winner for the hosts at the Victoria Stadium.

The Scottish Premier League champions have the chance to turn the tie around in the second leg, to be played at Parkhead next Wednesday.