Potential Transfer of Neymar to Schalke?
Is a rumor circulating about Brazilian football star Neymar joining FC Schalke 04 for ten matches? It seems implausible, as a briefly posted tweet on platform X was later removed by the second division club. They claimed to have been hacked for the second time in a short span.
FC Schalke 04 has apparently fallen victim to a hacking incident for the second time within a week. The second division club announced an unexpected transfer news: the acquisition of world-class player Neymar. A post on the messaging service X from Schalke read, "Neymar Jr X FC Schalke 04."
Furthermore, a post from another source appeared to be a fake Neymar profile. It stated, "I will now be playing ten consecutive matches for Schalke." Also, an advertisement for a cryptocurrency was promoted. Although the Neymar fake channel post remains visible on X, the Schalke post was deleted shortly after. Therefore, Neymar, who currently plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, will not be joining the Ruhr area.
"A second anomaly occurred. It was immediately removed," said a Schalke spokesperson to the German Press Agency, confirming the club's Twitter account had been hacked once again in a short period. Strangely, Schalke had already faced a cyber-attack a few days prior. "Apologies, folks, we're under attack again. Our account should be running smoothly now," Schalke tweeted on X using the hashtag #Hacker.
S04 remains clueless about the attacks' origins
Earlier, the Schalke X account had shared a cryptocurrency promotion as well. The post stated, "We have exciting news for the crypto community! Let us know what you think! Tune in for our next tweet!" Following this, the club announced a new partnership in this area. The posts were removed shortly afterward.
Schalke is still uncertain about the individuals responsible for these false news reports and the motive behind the targeted attacks. "Analysis has been underway since Tuesday, we're in contact with the platform and all relevant internal and external interfaces," the spokesperson mentioned before the game against Karlsruhe SC (18:30/Sky and live on ntv.de). "We can only speculate as to why our account is the target." The club boasts robust security measures.
Schalke's new major sponsor, Sun AG, is also involved in cryptocurrency businesses. Purchasing the product Minimeal, a substitute for meals offered by the Swiss company, earns users Sun Points. These points can then be exchanged for a cryptocurrency. According to the manufacturer, the potential for high returns is high.
Schalke faces backlash over its sponsor
This business model has sparked controversy. "Greed and the misinformed are being manipulated. It's all about the cryptocurrency, which promises quick wealth to attract people," said crypto expert Martin Calladine during the "Sportschau" in July. "In my opinion, the food is just a vehicle to extract real money from people's pockets. Investing in the currency via this detour will, in my view, result in the loss of the entire investment."
Schalke defended itself against the criticisms. "According to the current main sponsorship contract, Sun AG is obligated to promote the Minimeal product. This is the focus of the partnership. No points or coins are necessary to purchase the product."
Despite the deleted tweet, spirited discussions about Neymar potentially joining FC Schalke 04 persist among football fans. Regardless of the hacking incident, FC Schalke 04 continues to explore new sponsorship opportunities, particularly in the cryptocurrency sector.
