Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler latest footballer to voice moon landing conspiracy theories

سرویس بین‌الملل اوپا، ۱۰ آبان (اوپا) — Robbie Fowler, the former Liverpool and England striker, sparked controversy this week by dismissing the 1969 moon landing as fraudulent during an episode of a podcast hosted alongside former teammate Steve McManaman. Fowler’s assertion that the event was fabricated prompted immediate agreement from McManaman, who suggested the reasoning held merit. The exchange highlights a recurring trend among retired professional athletes who use their public profiles to discuss unsubstantiated claims regarding historical and scientific events.

Fowler is not the only high-profile player to express skepticism toward established historical facts. Former England international Joe Cole previously stated a desire to confront the late Neil Armstrong regarding the moon landing, despite Armstrong’s death in 2012. These public declarations often draw significant media attention, though they frequently lack empirical evidence or scientific backing, drawing criticism from the broader public and scientific community.

The phenomenon extends beyond historical skepticism into contemporary issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several players, including Dejan Lovren and Sol Campbell, utilized social media to circulate theories regarding the origins of the virus and the efficacy of public health measures. Lovren, in particular, promoted content linking the pandemic to 5G technology, while Campbell questioned whether the virus was deliberately engineered to target specific ethnic groups, a claim that faced widespread derision for its lack of scientific foundation.

Other figures in the sport have integrated these beliefs into their professional identities. Javi Poves, a former Sporting Gijon player, rebranded a lower-division club as 'Flat Earth FC' in 2019 to promote the theory that the Earth is not a sphere. While these views remain fringe, the willingness of prominent athletes to broadcast them continues to generate debate regarding the responsibility of public figures in disseminating information to their followers.