England footballer Phil Foden has taken legal action after a series of vile online hoaxes falsely claimed one of his children had died and another was battling cancer.
The Manchester City midfielder, 25, has instructed a team of lawyers to remove fabricated posts and AI-generated images circulating across social media, as he and his fiancée Rebecca Cooke battle to protect their family from the false claims.
The couple, who share three young children — Ronnie, six, True, four, and baby Phil Jr — have been the target of a disturbing wave of online trolling in recent weeks.
The fake stories began on Facebook, where users shared false reports that their eldest son, Ronnie, had died.
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Shortly afterwards, a post from an account calling itself Man City Fan Lover fabricated a false “confession” from Foden claiming that his daughter True had cancer.
The fake posts, many of which were accompanied by AI-generated images showing Foden and Cooke appearing to cry, quickly spread online and caused the footballer’s name to trend on multiple social media platforms and search engines.
Cooke, 24, broke her silence on the matter in an emotional Instagram statement, describing the lies as “sickening” and calling on supporters to help report the offending pages.
England footballer Phil Foden has taken legal action after a series of vile online hoaxes falsely claimed one of his children had died and another was battling cancer
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Phil Foden will be hoping to shine for Manchester City in their upcoming matches
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“We are aware of the pages and accounts spreading these stories,” she wrote. “They are completely false and very disturbing.
“I don’t understand how people can make up these things about anyone, especially children. It’s sickening.”
She continued: “We are all absolutely fine, thank God, and thank you for all your concerns. We are doing everything we can to stop them. Please report any posts or pages you come across sharing these false stories.”
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Phil Foden came off the bench in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Swansea City on Wednesday night
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According to The Sun, Foden’s legal team has launched a coordinated effort to have the fake content removed, contacting several social media companies and search platforms to demand takedowns.
A source close to the England star described the situation as “beyond disgusting” and said the couple had been “deeply distressed” by the hoaxes, which appeared designed to attract clicks and engagement through fabricated tragedy.
The incident is the latest in a growing number of false stories spread about high-profile athletes and their families through AI-generated content and malicious posts.
Phil Foden and Rebecca Cooke have three children together
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Cybersecurity experts have warned that the rise of realistic synthetic media has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine news from fabricated material.
Foden, who has been in a long-term relationship with Cooke since their teenage years, is widely regarded as one of England’s most talented players and a key figure in Manchester City’s recent success.
Away from football, he has largely kept his private life out of the spotlight, preferring to focus on family life and fatherhood.
The couple are believed to be determined to ensure those responsible for spreading the lies are held accountable.
Lawyers are examining whether the creators of the false posts could face civil action for defamation and harassment.
For now, the midfielder and his partner are urging fans to remain vigilant and avoid sharing or engaging with misleading content.
Phil Foden has won six Premier League titles with Manchester City
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Foden could feature when City face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday (4.30pm).
He came off the bench on Wednesday night as they beat Swansea City 3-1 in the Carabao Cup.